(DCWatchdog.com) – Speaking on “Fox & Friends” this week, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) noted that Americans’ are “tired of the shows” the Biden administration puts on about border security.
In his appearance on the show, Gonzales indicated his belief that U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was only “putting on a show for Hispanics along the border” in an effort to improve Democrats’ dropping approval ratings ahead of the midterms in November.
However, Gonzales noted the “show” was unlikely to work as Americans “want policy changes… that starts with the White House,” adding that the problem worsens every visit Mayorkas makes to the border.
Despite the border crisis, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has consistently claimed that illegal immigrants whose claims for asylum fail will be “promptly” removed from the United States.
However, his statements are being challenged by former Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. They say that Mayorkas’ promises are unlikely to be carried out given the mass release of illegal immigrants within the U.S. and Biden’s policies on immigration.
Furthermore, Mayorkas acknowledged this week that the immigration hearing process, which he referred to as “immigration enforcement proceedings,” can take between six and eight years. During that time, migrants would not be detained.
Currently, 3.5 million migrants find themselves in this status. A further 220,000 migrants are in ATD “Alternatives to Detention,” which requires them to check-in via an app, wear an ankle bracelet, or check in via a phone call as they await their proceedings.
Under the Biden administration, deportation has also plummeted. In the 2021 fiscal year, as an example, the administration only deported 59,011 migrants, a significant decrease from the 185,884 in FY 2020 and FY 2019’s 267,558 deportations.
Pointing to this situation, Gonzales stated that the southern border is “100% open,” expressing concern that when Title 42 ends on May 23, the problem will become “nuclear.”
