Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas | dhs.gov/medialibrary/
There is uncertainty as to whether a surge of migrants arriving at the U.S. southern border has reached its peak. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated on Sunday that it is still uncertain whether the recent surge in migrants at the border has reached its peak following the expiration of Title 42 last week.
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Mayorkas mentioned that the numbers have significantly decreased in the past few days compared to before the end of Title 42. He explained that encounters along the border had dropped by 50% during the week, with approximately 6,300 border encounters reported on Friday and 4,200 on Saturday.
"We have communicated very clearly, a vitally important message to the individuals who are thinking of arriving at our southern border," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.
Mayorkas encouraged immigrants and asylum seekers to come to the nation legally.
"There is a lawful, safe and orderly way to arrive in the United States that is through the pathways that President Biden has expanded in an unprecedented way. And then there's a consequence if one does not use those lawful pathways. And that consequence is removal from the United States, a deportation and encountering a five-year ban on reentry and possible criminal prosecution," he said.
Mayorkas attributed the decline in numbers to the Biden administration's clear message to migrants about the consequences of bypassing lawful pathways for asylum. Despite criticism from both sides of the political spectrum regarding the administration's preparedness for the end of Title 42, Mayorkas defended the evolving asylum system and stressed the importance of cutting out smugglers who profit from human tragedy.
