Gen. Kelly: I witnessed Border Patrol agents fail to detain illegal immigrants entering El Paso

General John Kelly, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said he witnessed Border Patrol Agents in El Paso fail to apprehend people entering the United States illegally.

Kelly made the comment during his confirmation Hearing Tuesday.

Gen. Kelly said he was “off active duty” several months ago, on business with the Department of Defense, speaking with five agents at the border around 600 feet away from the fence.

“We saw half a dozen or so people jump over the fence,” said Gen. Kelly. ” I’m standing there just expecting the officers to jump in their cars put their lights on and dash down there.”

Gen. Kelly said his expectations were not met and the replies from the agents were surprising.

“They asked, ‘what’s the use,'” said Gen. Kelly.

“There’s a big fence there, call it a wall, and it’s pretty substantial and it’s not a chain link fence, it’s 18 feet tall and pretty seriously constructed but we saw half a dozen or so people jump over the fence and I’m standing there just expecting the officers to jump in their cars put their lights on and dash down there and they said what’s the use, I was surprised, that’s not good for morale,” Kelly said.

ABC-7 reached out to the union that represents Border Patrol agents and the Department of Homeland Security. Both declined comment.