An Opinion on GOP Targeting Mayorkas

In an article written by Elizabeth Elkind for Fox News and published June 26, 2024 stated “Mayorkas is a frequent target of the House GOP's ire, with Republican lawmakers blaming him for the enduring crisis at the southern border.”  https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-votes-defund-mayorkas-salary-dhs-funding-bill 

I have to say that, I believe, this sentence is ill stated.   

Following are statistics from various sources: 

According to the US Customs and Border Protection Agency the following represent National Encounters by year. https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/nationwide-encounters     

What is a national encounter? According to Yahoo “Note: Nationwide encounters are the sum of CBP encounters across all areas of responsibility including Northern Land Border, Southwest Land Border, OFO non-land border ports of entry (e.g., airports, seaports), and USBP sectors that do not share a land border with Canada or Mexico (e.g., Miami Sector).” https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=E210US0G0&p=what+is+a+national+encounter 

According to the Homeland Security Committee/Republican  

"Key Facts: 

Encounters at the Southwest border (SWB) in FY2023 increased over 40% since FY2021, 4% compared to FY2022, and more than 100% compared to FY2019. 

Last month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported a 40% increase compared to September 2021 and 18% compared to September 2022. 

Since President Biden took office, there have been 7.5 million encounters nationwide and 6.2 million encounters at the Southwest border, in addition to 1.7 million known gotaways.  

In FY2023, 169 individuals whose names appear on the terrorist watchlist were stopped trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border between ports of entry. 18 were apprehended in September alone. 

So far in FY2023, CBP has arrested 35,433 aliens with criminal convictions or outstanding warrants nationwide, including 598 known gang members, 178 of those being MS-13 members. 

In FY2023, CBP, including Air and Marine Operations, has seized 27,293 pounds of fentanyl, coming across the Southwest border—enough to kill more than 6 billion people.” https://homeland.house.gov/2023/10/26/factsheet-final-fy23-numbers-show-worst-year-at-americas-borders-ever/ 

John Gramlich authored a report for Pew Research Center which stated, “Migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border hit a record high at the end of 2023.” https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/02/15/migrant-encounters-at-the-us-mexico-border-hit-a-record-high-at-the-end-of-2023/ 

USA Facts reported “Between October 2019 and January 2024, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported over 9.8 million border encounters across the country. That’s roughly equivalent to the current population of Michigan, the 10th most populous state. 

Monthly encounters peaked in December 2023, with over 370,000 people. Nearly 12,000 individuals were encountered at the border daily in December 2023, more than eight people every minute.” https://usafacts.org/articles/what-can-the-data-tell-us-about-unauthorized-immigration/ 

These reports show similar trends. This indicates that there is a problem with national security at the borders of the United States. 

Homeland Security’s web site states “Under the Secretary's leadership, DHS is responsible for counterterrorism, cybersecurity, aviation security, border security, port security, maritime security, administration and enforcement of our immigration laws, protection of our national leaders, protection of critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, detection of and protection against chemical, biological and nuclear threats to the homeland, and response to disasters.”  https://www.dhs.gov/topics/secretary-homeland-security   

“Alejandro Mayorkas was sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by President Biden on February 2, 2021.” https://www.dhs.gov/topics/secretary-homeland-security      

Since he has leadership responsibility for the security of the United States and illegal immigration has increased, I believe, it would be safe to assume he isn’t doing his job. If you weren’t doing your job, you would be fired. The lives and safety of the citizens of the United States are dependent on the safety afforded us by Homeland Security. 

For Fox News to state that republicans target Mayorkas “for the enduring crisis at the southern border” makes it sound as if it is a personal vendetta. According to the statistics the man simply is not doing his job.   

1 Samuel 26:23 New American Standard Bible 

“23 And the Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness;”

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