DHS secretary: We are working in a ‘completely broken’ immigration system

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday said that the U.S. is capable of addressing the immigration crisis at the southern border, but acknowledged that “we are working in a completely broken system.”

Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Mayorkas pointed to the Biden administration’s actions in Del Rio, Texas, where thousands of Haitian migrants had been camped out under a bridge. 

“We have an incredible ability to deploy resources to meet the challenges that we face. And we actually have evidence that, quite powerfully, in Del Rio, Texas, in less than a week, we addressed a population of 15,000 there and now there are none,” said Mayorkas.

Host Chuck Todd also asked if the U.S. has the ability to properly handle the crisis or if existing laws need to be changed, and Mayorkas appeared to agree with both options.

“Well, I think we meet the challenges, but we are working in a completely broken system. And as to that, there is unanimity in Washington and in the country. I’ve never heard anyone say that the laws in immigration are well structured.”

Addressing photos and videos of horse patrol agents appearing to manhandle Haitian migrants, Mayorkas said public observers were “correctly and necessarily were horrified” by what was shown. However, he stated that no agents would be considered “guilty” before an independent investigation is conducted.

When asked what he thought of Democratic lawmakers calling Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) a rogue agency, Mayorkas responded: “I couldn’t disagree more vehemently. I’m intensely and immensely proud of the men and women of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”

“In fact, in Del Rio, Texas, I saw them act heroically. You know, what those images suggest does not reflect who CBP is, who we are as a department, or who we are as a country,” Mayorkas added.