Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas countered Texas Governor Greg Abbott‘s recent demand for President Joe Biden to utilize executive authority regarding the southern border, dismissing Abbott’s stance as erroneous.
Mayorkas underscored the necessity for congressional action, highlighting the limitations faced by previous attempts to close the border through executive orders.
Abbott had criticized Biden’s lack of executive action despite existing congressional authorizations during a previous interview, positioning himself as one of the administration’s leading critics in the ongoing debate over border policies.
The friction intensified following Texas’s placement of razor wire along the US-Mexico border, prompting Mayorkas to denounce the action as unconstitutional and issue a cease-and-desist order.
Mayorkas criticized Abbott’s reluctance to collaborate with the federal government, accusing him of exacerbating issues by busing migrants to Democratic-led cities. Despite calls for executive intervention, Mayorkas emphasized the importance of comprehensive legislative reform to address systemic challenges at the border.
The White House reportedly considered executive measures to restrict asylum claims for migrants crossing the border illegally, reminiscent of Trump-era policies. However, Mayorkas sidestepped questions about potential executive actions, reaffirming the need for congressional involvement in implementing long-term solutions.
Defending Biden’s recent visit to the southern border, Mayorkas stressed the bipartisan effort required to address the longstanding issues. Meanwhile, tensions simmered as the House narrowly voted to impeach Mayorkas over border management, marking a rare instance of a Cabinet secretary facing impeachment.
Mayorkas remained noncommittal regarding the Senate’s handling of the impeachment charges, opting to focus on his duties rather than engage in political speculation.
