ABC News host Martha Raddatz grilled Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on President Biden's border actions, questioning their success in light of the record number of apprehensions at the southern border.
ABC News host Martha Raddatz confronted Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday about President Biden's border actions, arguing that it was challenging to define them as a "success" given the surge in apprehensions. Raddatz's interrogation stemmed from Mayorkas' previous assertions in 2021 that the administration had a plan to address the migration issue.
"We have seen large numbers of migration in the past. We know how to address it. We have a plan. We are executing on our plan, and we will succeed," Mayorkas had stated.
Raddatz emphasized that since those comments, 6.5 million migrants had been apprehended at the southern border, a figure that contradicted the notion of success. Mayorkas defended the Biden administration by asserting that he had called for congressional action, emphasizing migration as a "dynamic phenomenon" not unique to the United States.
Raddatz further inquired about Biden's executive action at the border, which temporarily halts the entry of non-citizens across the southern border when the average number of daily encounters exceeds 2,500 for seven days. The suspension will remain in effect for 14 days after the border encounters fall below 1,500 daily on average.
Raddatz expressed skepticism about the likelihood of such a reduction, particularly before the upcoming Election Day. Mayorkas defended the move, claiming it was a step toward the target number of encounters and emphasizing efforts to promote legal pathways for migration in the region.
Raddatz pressed Mayorkas on the delay in implementing the action, which occurred four months after the bipartisan border deal in Congress fell through. Mayorkas explained that the deal had been rejected twice before the administration developed and implemented the current policy. He underlined the significance and complexity of the move, which required cooperation from other countries.
Raddatz raised concerns expressed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which plans to sue the administration over the policy, comparing it to a Trump-era policy. Mayorkas disagreed with the ACLU's assessment, stating that he anticipated a lawsuit but believed the action was necessary.
The article concludes with quotes from Mayorkas reiterating the need for congressional action and expressing disagreement with the ACLU's stance.
