Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ meeting with Border Patrol agents in the Yuma Sector on Wednesday did not go well after he admitted the staggering number of illegal border crossings has made the agents’ job more difficult.
In an audio recording of his remarks to the agents, which was obtained by Townhall, Mayorkas conceded the massive influx of people illegally crossing into the sector, along with the rest of the southern sectors, has not been easy.Â
“The job has not gotten any easier over the last few months and it was very, very difficult throughout 2021. I know apprehending families and kids is not what you signed up to do. And now we got a composition that is changing even more with Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and the like, it just gets more difficult,” Mayorkas said in the recording.
Mayorkas said DHS is trying to work with the Mexican government to stop the flow of immigrants before they reach the U.S. border.
“I know the policies of this administration are not particularly popular with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, but that’s the reality and let’s see what we can do within that framework,” Mayorkas added.
An agent pressed Mayorkas on how DHS can reconcile saying border security is the main mission for Border Patrol, yet agents are unable to patrol the border due to the policies the Biden administration has in place. Border Patrol agents are being utilized to process the thousands of illegal immigrants.
Mayorkas said he appreciated “the candor” and explained he is working to ensure agents have the personnel, funding, and equipment they need to do their job. The agent replied they have been hearing that answer for years.
According to sources present at the meeting and the audio recording, the agent who asked the question then turned his back on Mayorkas.Â
“Let me just say, you can turn your back on me but I’ll never turn my back on you,” Mayorkas said. The agent replied Mayorkas turned his back on the agents first.
By Julio Rosas
