Homeland Security minister visits El Paso amidst immigration crisis

EL PASO, TX – The minister of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, visited the city of El Paso, Texas in the midst of the immigration crisis facing the border with Mexico.

During his visit, Mayorkas met with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in El Paso, just as 20 House Republicans were pushing for his ouster.

“I have met in El Paso with the extraordinary CBP, who tirelessly, selflessly and courageously are on the front lines of keeping our country safe. They do so in the face of great challenges, working 24/7 in service of the mission. The hardest personnel do the hardest work,” the official said through his official Twitter account.

He also had a productive meeting with El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser and County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, with a commitment to address together the challenges the border is facing.

Mayorkas’ visit came days before the end of the Title 42 program, which is set to expire by order of a federal judge on December 21.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas stated that the Title 42 public health order remains in effect until December 20, 2022, and until then, DHS will continue to remove single adults and families found at the southwest border under that authority.

“Once the Title 42 order is no longer in effect, DHS will prosecute individuals found at the border without proper travel documents using its long-standing Title 8 authorities, which provide for significant consequences, including barring re-entry for individuals who are removed for five years. These consequences include placing individuals in expedited removal, which allows DHS to quickly repatriate individuals who have no lawful basis to remain in the United States,” he commented.

However, he indicated that smugglers will spread misinformation to take advantage of vulnerable migrants, so he called on people on the move not to put their lives at risk, and waste their money.