Sen. Lindsey Graham (S-S.C.) is calling on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to step down from his position amid the border crisis.
āIt is clear to me the Biden Administration has lost control of the border. Under its current leadership it doesnāt have either the will or capability to fix the problem. The solutions are obvious but will require an understanding that the Biden Administrationās early policy choices ā to abandon Trumpās successful border policies ā was a mistake,ā Graham wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
He added, āIt is time for DHS Secretary Mayorkas to change course or change jobs. The situation is bad and only going to get worse. Unless there is immediate and drastic change, the worst is yet to come ā by far.ā
During Mayorkasā testimony before a House panel on the situation at the southern border, Republicans were not able to get him to call it is a crisis.
As of Tuesday, more than 13,000 unaccompanied migrant children were in the custody of the United States. More than 4,200 were being housed in Border Patrol facilities. Three thousand were held beyond the legal limit of 72 hours.
The number of migrant children being housed in shelters seeking to add beds removed during the COVID-19 pandemic reached 9,200.
When pressed on whether the situation is a crisis, Mayorkas responded, āIām not spending any time on the language that we use. I am spending time on operational response on the situation at the border.ā
He called the situation āundoubtedly difficult.ā
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked during a press briefing on Wednesday if Biden will place a ācapā on the number of migrant children allowed in the United States, as IJR reported.
āOur policy continues to be weāre not going to send a 10-year-old back across the border. That was the policy of the last administration. Thatās not our policy here,ā Psaki said.
Graham expressed willingness to work with Democrats on immigration reform if āwe regain control of the border.ā