>> Chris: JEFF PAUL REPORTING
FROM OUR SOUTHERN BORDER.
JEFF, THANK YOU.
AND JOINING US NOW HERE IN
STUDIO AS THE SECRETARY OF
MOMENT SECURITY, A LA HUNDRED
MAYORKAS.
WELCOME BACK, SIR COMING TO
"FOX NEWS SUNDAY."
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING ME.
>> Chris: I WANT TO START WITH
THOSE 30,000 HAITIAN MIGRANTS
WHO CAME ACROSS THE BORDER INTO
DEL RIO, TEXAS, SINCE
SEPTEMBER 9TH, AS YOU SAY.
YOU SAY THAT 12,400 WILL HAVE
THEIR CASES HEARD BY AN
IMMIGRATION JUDGE AND ANOTHER
5,000 ARE BEING PROCESSED BY
YOUR DEPARTMENT.
MR. SECRETARY, OF THOSE 17,400,
HOW MANY HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO
THE U.S. AND HOW MANY MORE
POTENTIALLY COULD BE RELEASED
INTO THE U.S.?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: SO,
CHRIS, ABOUT 3,000 ARE ACTUALLY
IN DETENTION, AND WE MAKE THOSE
DETENTION DETERMINATIONS IN THE
BEST INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC.
OTHERS ARE IN IMMIGRATION COURT
PROCEEDINGS.
THEY ARE MONITORED BY OSCAR.
WE IMPOSE CONDITIONS UPON THEM
SO WE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEM
AND ENSURE THEIR APPEARANCE IN
COURT.
AS THE LAW REQUIRES.
>> Chris: BUT TO ANSWER MY
QUESTION DIRECTLY, OF THE 17,400
THAT WEREN’T DEPORTED BACK OR
DIDN’T RETURN ON THEIR OWN TO
MEXICO, HOW MANY OF THEM
EITHER -- WELL, FIRST, HOW MANY
HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO THE
U.S.?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: THEY
ARE RELEASED ON CONDITIONS,
APPROXIMATELY, I THINK IT’S
ABOUT 10,000 OR SO, 12,000.
>> Chris: HAVE BEEN RELEASED?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: YES.
>> Chris: END OF THE 5,000
THAT ARE STILL IN PROCESS?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: WE WILL
MAKE DETERMINATIONS WHETHER THEY
WILL BE RETURNED TO HAITI BASED
ON OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC
INTEREST AUTHORITIES.
>> Chris: SO ARE WE TALKING
ABOUT A TOTAL OF 12,000 OR COULD
IT BE EVEN HIGHER?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: IT
COULD BE EVEN HIGHER.
IF THE NUMBER THAT ARE RETURNED
COULD BE EVEN HIGHER.
WHAT WE DO IS WE FOLLOW THE LAW
AS CONGRESS HAS PASSED IT.
>> Chris: BUT LET’S DRILL DOWN
ON MORE THAN 12,000 MIGRANTS WHO
YOU SAY THAT YOU’RE GOING TO
KEEP SURVEILLANCE OVER BUT THEY
ARE BEING RELEASED INTO THIS
COUNTRY.
>> Secretary Mayorkas: CHRIS,
THAT’S WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES.
>> Chris: I UNDERSTAND.
>> Secretary Mayorkas: IF, IN
FACT, SOMEONE IS NOT EXPELLED
UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH
AUTHORITY OF THE CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL, THEN THEY ARE
PLACED IN IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS.
THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
THEIR CLAIM FOR RELIEF TO A
JUDGE AS THE LAW REQUIRES.
>> Chris: I UNDERSTAND ALL OF
THAT, BUT LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT
IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THOSE
12,000.
REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING
ASYLUM CASES, CAN TAKE ANYWHERE
FROM SIX MONTHS TO SEVERAL
YEARS, AND 44%, ACCORDING TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, 44% OF
THOSE WHO ARE RELEASED INTO
CUSTODY -- FROM CUSTODY -- MISS
THEIR COURT HEARINGS.
JUST AS A MATTER OF REALITY,
WON’T MANY OF THOSE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE END UP SETTLING HERE IN
THE UNITED STATES, SOME OF THEM
PERMANENTLY?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: CHRIS,
WE HAVE ENFORCEMENT GUIDELINES
IN PLACE THAT PROVIDE THAT
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RECENT
BORDER CROSSERS WHO DO NOT SHOW
UP FOR THEIR HEARINGS ARE
ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES, AND WILL
BE REMOVED.
AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR --
>> Chris: TO REMOVE ALL OF
THEM ORDER SOME OF THEM
DISAPPEAR INTO THE COUNTRY?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: IT IS
OUR INTENTION TO REMOVE THEM,
THAT IS WHAT OUR POLICIES ARE,
AND WE DEPLOY OUR ENFORCEMENT
RESOURCES ACCORDING TO CERTAIN
PRIORITIES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY
AND SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
>> Chris: BUT SIR, THERE ARE
MORE THAN 11 MILLION PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.
CLEARLY, DESPITE YOUR BEST
EFFORTS, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE END
UP IN THIS COUNTRY AND DON’T --
JUST DISAPPEAR.
>> Secretary Mayorkas: CHRIS,
11 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY WITHOUT LAWFUL PRESENCE
IS A COMPELLING REASON WHY THERE
IS UNANIMITY ABOUT THE FACT THAT
OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS BROKEN
AND LEGISLATIVE REFORM IS
NEEDED.
>> Chris: OKAY.
ACCORDING TO INTERNAL DOCUMENTS,
YOUR DEPARTMENT IS NOW TRACKING
A LOT MORE PEOPLE, INCLUDING
HAITIANS, WHO ARE ON THEIR WAY
UP FROM SOUTH AMERICA,
CENTRAL AMERICA, TO CROSS THE
BORDER INTO THIS COUNTRY.
I WANT TO PUT UP THE NUMBERS.
20,000 HAITIANS IN COLUMBIA,
3,000 IN PERU AND 1500 IN PANAMA
PANAMA.
IN MAY, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
EXTENDED TEMPORARY PROTECTED
STATUS FOR THE 150,000 HAITIANS
ALREADY LIVING IN THE U.S. AND
NOW AS YOU’VE SAID, YOU HAVE
RELEASED ANOTHER MORE THAN
12,000 INTO THE COUNTRY.
OUR NEXT GUEST, TEXAS
GOVERNOR ABBOTT, TRAVELED TO DEL
RIO, TO THE SITE OF THAT BRIDGE
AND THE 15,000 PEOPLE HUDDLED
UNDER THE BRIDGE THIS WEEK, AND
HERE’S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY, TAKE
A LOOK.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE AN
ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS
ABANDONED ANY PRETENSE OF
SECURING THE BORDER AND SECURING
OUR SOVEREIGNTY, YOU SEE THE
ONRUSH OF PEOPLE LIKE WHAT WE
SAW WALKING ACROSS THIS DAM THAT
IS RIGHT BEHIND ME.
>> Chris: HASN’T THIS
ADMINISTRATION CREATED A
MAGNETS?
HAVEN’T YOU GIVEN HAITIANS, AND
A MILLION MORE IMMIGRANTS WILL
YOU HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH SINCE
JOE BIDEN CAME INTO OFFICE,
HAVEN’T YOU GIVEN THEM A REASON
TO BELIEVE THERE’S A REASONABLE
CHANCE IF THEY COME INTO THIS
COUNTRY, THEY WILL END UP BEING
RELEASED INTO THE COUNTRY AND
HAVE MONTHS OR PERHAPS YEARS TO
STAY HERE?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: CHRIS,
THIS IS NOTHING NEW.
WE’VE SEEN THIS TYPE OF
IRREGULAR MIGRATION MANY, MANY
TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
I DON’T KNOW IF GOVERNOR ABBOTT
SAID THE SAME THING IN 2019 WHEN
THERE WERE MORE THAN A MILLION
PEOPLE ENCOUNTERED AT THE
SOUTHERN BORDER.
>> Chris: IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE.
THE STATISTICS OF YOUR OWN
DEPARTMENT SHOW THAT THE FLOOD
OF PEOPLE COMING ILLEGALLY
ACROSS THE BORDER HAS GOTTEN
WORSE UNDER THE BIDEN
DEMONSTRATION.
>> Secretary Mayorkas: I
WOULDN’T CALL IT A FLOOD, IF I
MAY.
>> Chris: WHAT WOULD YOU CALL
IT?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: WE HAVE
SEEN LARGE NUMBERS OF
INDIVIDUALS ENCOUNTERED AT OUR
BORDER MAKING A CLAIM FOR
ASYLUM, FOR HUMANITARIAN RELIEF,
WHICH IS A STATUTE, WHICH IS A
LAW OF THE UNITED STATES THAT
INDIVIDUALS CAN MAKE A CLAIM, A
FEAR OF PERSECUTION BY REASON OF
THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN A PARTICULAR
SOCIAL GROUP.
THAT’S WHAT THE LAW PROVIDES.
THIS -- WE ARE CERTAINLY SEEING
A LARGE NUMBER OF -- HERE IN
THIS YEAR, BUT IN 2019, WE SAW A
LARGE NUMBER.
IN 2014, IN 2010.
THIS IS NOTHING NEW.
IT SPANS MANY, MANY YEARS.
IT SPANS DIFFERENT
ADMINISTRATIONS OF BOTH PARTIES,
AND IT SPEAKS TO THE NEED FOR
LEGISLATIVE REFORM.
>> Chris: BUT I WANT TO GET TO
THIS QUESTION ABOUT
ASYLUM-SEEKERS HAVING TO COME
OVER IN A MINUTE.
BUT I WANT TO TALK FIRST BECAUSE
YOU SAY NOTHING HAS CHANGED
BURIED YOU HAD -- I MEAN I THINK
WHAT WAS SO DRAMATIC ABOUT THESE
LAST TWO WEEKS IS THAT, YES,
THERE IS A TRICKLE OF PEOPLE TO
COME ACROSS, BUT TO SEE 30,000
PEOPLE IN 17 DAYS COME ACROSS
THE BORDER INTO ONE LOCATION AND
BE HIDING UNDER THAT -- HUDDLING
UNDER THAT BRIDGE, YOU SAY
30,000 PEOPLE WALKED ACROSS THAT
INTO DEL RIO IN THE LAST 17
DAYS.
QUESTION, WHY DIDN’T YOU STOP
THEM?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: WE
ENCOUNTER THEM AT THE BORDER.
THAT’S WHERE WE ENCOUNTER THEM,
CHRIS.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WE SAW INDEED
A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CROSS
AT ONE PARTICULAR PART OF THE
BORDER IN A SHORT.
LACK OF TIME.
AND WHAT DID WE DO?
WE SEARCHED OUR RESOURCES,
SEARCH OUR PERSONAL.
>> Chris: WHY WOULD YOU STOP
THEM FROM COMING INTO THE
COUNTRY?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: WE DID.
WE ENCOUNTERED THEM, THEY
GATHERED -- THEY ASSEMBLED IN
THAT ONE LOCATION IN DEL RIO,
TEXAS, AND WE APPLIED THE LAWS.
WE APPLIED THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW
UNDER THE CDC’S AUTHORITY, AND
WE APPLIED IMMIGRATION --
>> Chris: MY QUESTION IS WHY
DID YOU ALLOW THEM IN THE
COUNTRY IN THE FIRST PLACE?
WHITING YOU BUILD, FORGIVE ME, A
WALL OR A FENCE TO STOP THEM
FROM WALKING -- THIS FLOOD OF
PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THE DAM, IT
LOOKS LIKE A HIGHWAY THAT ALLOWS
THEM TO CROSS THE RIO GRANDE.
>> Secretary Mayorkas: IT IS
THE POLICY OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION, WE DO NOT AGREE
WITH THE BUILDING OF THE WALL.
THE LAW PROVIDES THAT
INDIVIDUALS CAN MAKE A CLAIM FOR
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF.
THAT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR
PROUDEST TRADITIONS.
>> Chris: OF THE 30,000
HAITIANS WHO CAME ACROSS THE
BORDER INTO DEL RIO, HOW MANY
DID YOUR DEPARTMENT TEST FOR
COVID?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: SO WE
HAVE STRICT COVID TESTING
PROTOCOLS THAT WE APPLY ACROSS
THE BOARD.
WE TEST, ISOLATE, AND QUARANTINE
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN.
WE WORK WITH NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS TO TEST FAMILIES.
THOSE WHO ARE IN NICE CUSTODY
ARE TESTED, ISOLATED, AND
QUARANTINE.
THOSE WHO ARE EXPELLED UNDER THE
TITLE 42 PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY
ARE RETURNED IMMEDIATELY.
THEY ARE NOT PLACED IN
IMMIGRATION COURT PROCEEDINGS,
AND THOSE WE DO NOT TEST,
BECAUSE THEY ARE RETURNED
MEDIALLY.
>> Chris: BUT YOUR OWN
DEPARTMENTS INSPECTOR GENERAL
SAID THAT YOUR TESTING POLICY --
AND THE FAURE TO TEST A LOT OF
PEOPLE WOUND UP IN THIS
COUNTRY -- THAT YOU RELY ON
STROKE OHMIC LOCAL OR STATE
OFFICIALS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON’T GET TESTED HAS PUT
COMMUNITIES IN THIS COUNTRY AT
RISK.
>> Secretary Mayorkas: WE
CONCURRED WITH THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS, WE MADE
IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT IS ALSO NOTHING NEW.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHY WE HAVE AN
INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF OUR
OPERATIONS, TO SEE WHERE WE CAN
MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, WHERE WE CAN
STRENGTHEN OUR PROCESSES, AND
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID
HERE.
>> Chris: A COUPLE OF MORE
QUESTIONS I WANT TO GET INTO
WITH YOU.
YOUR DEPARTMENT IS NOW
INVESTIGATING THE BORDER PATROL
FOR THOSE OFFICERS ON HORSEBACK
WHO WERE AT THE BORDER TRYING TO
KEEP PATIENTS FROM COMING ACROSS
THE BORDER.
HERE IS SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM
TALKING ABOUT THAT.
>> I THINK THE MOST INHUMANE
THING GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN
AMERICA IS THAT THE MEN AND
WOMEN OF THE BORDER PATROL HAVE
BEEN COMPLETELY ABANDONED,
DEMAGOGUE, SCAPEGOAT, AND
TREATED LIKE DIRT BY ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND IS IT
ADMINISTRATION.
>> Chris: I KNOW YOU’VE GOT AN
INVESTIGATION GOING ON SO I’M
NOT GOING TO ASK ABOUT WHAT THEY
DID.
WHAT I AM GOING TO ASK YOU IS
WHO ORDERED THOSE PATROL AGENTS
ON HORSEBACK TO GO TO THE
BORDER, AND WHAT WERE THEY
SUPPOSED TO DO?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: CHRIS,
I’D LIKE TO NOT SPEAK ABOUT WHAT
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO BECAUSE
THAT ALSO TOUCHES UPON THE
INVESTIGATION THAT IS ONGOING.
WHAT THE POLICIES AND TRAINING
REQUIRED, AND WHETHER OR NOT
THOSE IN THE VISUAL --
THE HORSE PATROL IS SOMETHING
THE BORDER PATROL EMPLOYEES
BECAUSE HORSES CAN TRAVERSE,
THEY CAN COVER TERRAIN THAT
MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE COVERED.
>> Chris: I UNDERSTAND, BUT
THEY WEREN’T THERE, THEY WERE ON
THE BORDER TO BLOCK THE HAITIANS
FROM COMING ACROSS.
>> Secretary Mayorkas: WE USE
THE BORDER PATROL, THE HORSE
PATROL, TO ASSESS THE SITUATION
AND VERY OFTEN TO HELP PEOPLE IN
DISTRESS.
WHETHER THESE INDIVIDUAL BORDER
PATROL AGENTS ON HORSEBACK
COMPLIED WITH OUR POLICIES AND
TRAINING, OR WHETHER THEY DID
NOT, IS THE SUBJECT OF AN
INVESTIGATION, AND THAT
INVESTIGATION IS INDEPENDENT,
AND THE OUTCOME WILL BE
DETERMINED BY THE FACTS AND
NOTHING MORE.
>> Chris: FINALLY, YOU TALKED
EARLIER ABOUT THE FACT THAT
ALLOWING PEOPLE TO COME INTO
THIS COUNTRY TO MAKE A CLAIM OF
ASYLUM IS THE LAW, BUT IN FACT,
AND YOU KNOW THIS WELL, SIR,
MORE THAN A MONTH AGO, THE
SUPREME COURT OVERRULED THE IDEA
THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAD
UNILATERALLY DECIDED TO RESCIND
PRESIDENT TRUMP -- FORMER
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S "REMAIN IN
MEXICO" POLICY, THE PEOPLE HAD
TO WAIT IN MEXICO WHILE MAKING
THEIR CLAIM OF ASYLUM.
THEY MADE THAT RULING MORE THAN
A MONTH AGO.
WHY HAVE YOU FAILED TO COMPLY
WITH THE SUPREME COURT’S RULING
TO REINSTATE REMAIN IN MEXICO?
>> Secretary Mayorkas: SO IT
IS A DISTRICT COURT RULING.
>> Chris: SUPREME COURT
RULING.
>> Secretary Mayorkas: THE
SUPREME COURT MADE A
DETERMINATION ON THE INJUNCTION,
BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE LAW
ANOTHER TIME.
LET ME SAY THIS, THAT WE ARE
COMPLYING WITH THE COURT’S
ORDER.
WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO
IMPLEMENT THE MIGRANT PROTECTION
PROTOCOLS, AND WE ARE
NEGOTIATING WITH MEXICO, BECAUSE
THOSE PROTOCOLS REQUIRE A
BILATERAL AGREEMENT.
AND SO WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH
MEXICO, AS WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO
UNDER THE COURT’S ORDER.
>> Chris: MR. SECRETARY,
THANK YOU, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME,
THANKS FOR TAKING TIME OUT