DHS Secretary, US Border Patrol Chief meeting with El Paso County Judge Thursday
EL PASO, Texas - Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz will make a stop in El Paso Thursday.
ABC-7 confirmed Secretary Mayorkas and Chief Ortiz will be meeting with El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego. DHS officials say the purpose of this trip is to focus on the DHS workforce. Mayorkas visited Yuma, Az Wednesday, where he spoke to local television station KYMA in an exclusive interview.
Mayorkas met with Yuma county officials, non-profit organizations, and Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents to understand the needs of their community.
In Yuma I also met with elected officials and their representatives. They shared concerns and we identified actions to address them.
— Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (@SecMayorkas) January 27, 2022
A strong partnership for the people of Yuma. pic.twitter.com/ifaxPC1nIB
According to recent Customs and Border Protection statistics, the Yuma sector experienced a 2,391% increase in encounters during the FY '22 months of Oct., Nov. and Dec, compared to the same period in FY '21.
The El Paso sector saw a 71.7% increase in encounters for FY '22 months of Oct., Nov. and Dec. compared to the same period in FY '21.
"We are building a humane orderly, and safe immigration system. We continue to enforce the law, both the law of accountability and the law of humanitarian relief. We are doing so not alone but in a bi-lateral and a multi-lateral relationship uh with other countries. We are dealing with irregular migration from beginning all the way through the process. Bringing efficiency, order and humanity throughout," Mayorkas told KYMA.
After visiting El Paso, Mayorkas will head to Laredo, then back to Washington to report his findings with the Biden administration.
An update from Yuma with @USBPChief & @CBPArizona ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ptGNFzSZth
— Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (@SecMayorkas) January 27, 2022
