Mayorkas slams ‘callous’ smugglers’ ‘revenue’ motive for contemporary tragedy on the border

Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Friday took purpose at “callous” smugglers liable for the deaths of two migrants in a rail automotive in Texas – accusing the smugglers of solely caring about “making a revenue.”

“We’re heartbroken to study of yet one more tragic incident of migrants taking the damaging journey,” the DHS chief mentioned in an announcement.

Uvalde Police Division mentioned that roughly 15 individuals in want of medical consideration had been discovered within the rail automotive, which had been stopped by Border Patrol two to 3 miles east of Knippa, Texas, after a 911 name warning of migrants suffocating. Two of these migrants died, 5 have been air-lifted to San Antonio, and 5 have been taken to close by hospitals. 

Mayorkas praised Border Patrol brokers and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) brokers supporting the investigation.

“We are going to work with the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Workplace to carry these accountable,” he mentioned. “Smugglers are callous and solely care about making a revenue.”

MIGRANT DEATHS ON TEXAS TRAIN MARK LATEST BORDER INCIDENT IN STRING OF RECENT TRAGEDIES: ‘HEARTBROKEN’ 

The tragedy comes after the loss of life of eight migrants earlier this month on two smuggling vessels that capsized off the coast of Southern California and is one among various lethal incidents at or close to the border in recent times.

In FY 2022, there have been 856 migrant deaths, marking the best on file and coming amid file numbers of migrant encounters on the southern border.

TEXAS AUTHORITIES SAY AT LEAST 2 MIGRANTS DEAD, OVER A DOZEN INJURED AFTER SUFFOCATING IN TRAIN CAR

The administration has repeatedly appealed to migrants to not make the treacherous journey north and to not put their lives into the fingers of smugglers. As an alternative, they’ve referred to as on migrants to reap the benefits of the authorized asylum pathways the administration has both created or expanded – whereas additionally tackling “root causes” in Central America. 

Nevertheless, whereas the administration believes it has turned the nook and has seen a lower in unlawful border crossings in January and February, crossings stay excessive, and Republicans have blamed the disaster on the Biden administration’s rolling again of Trump-era border protections.

Republicans within the Home have zeroed in on Mayorkas, particularly, for his dealing with of the disaster. Some Republicans, together with Speaker Kevin McCarthy, have floated a doable impeachment of the DHS chief, whereas others have launched articles of impeachment towards him.

Mayorkas has dismissed these calls however was lately dealt a blow when Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz instructed lawmakers that DHS doesn’t have “operational management” of the southern border. Mayorkas had instructed lawmakers final 12 months that DHS does have operational management of the border.

The listening to was held by the Home Homeland Safety Committee to “look at the direct hyperlink between President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas’ reckless border insurance policies and the unprecedented disaster at our Southwest border” and was one among various hearings and visits being held on the border itself by Republicans, now that they management the chamber.

Fox Information’ Invoice Melugin and Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
 

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