Mayorkas: 600K Illegal ‘Gotaways’ Crossed U.S. Border in 2023
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
4:00 PM – Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made a shocking announcement that over 600,000 people illegally crossed into the United States without being apprehended by border security during the 2023 fiscal year.
On Tuesday, Mayorkas testified before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for the annual “Threats to the Homeland” hearing.
During the hearing, he revealed that over 600,000 people illegally crossed the border into the U.S. without being apprehended during the 2023 fiscal year (FY), which ended on September 30th.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) asked Mayorkas how many “gotaways” U.S. Border Patrol agents recorded in the last year, and Mayorkas responded saying the number exceeded 600,000.
“Gotaways” refer to immigrants observed illegally crossing over into the U.S. without being arrested.
Mayorkas insisted during the hearing that the alarming number of “gotaways” has been a long-standing issue at the border for decades.
“I’m sure you are well aware the phenomenon of “gotaways” is something that has been a challenge for the Department of Homeland Security for decades,” Mayorkas said. “In fact, it is a powerful example of a broken immigration system.”
However, members of the Senate committee pointed out that Mayorkas had consistently claimed in the past that the southern border remained “secure.” These allegations have now come under intense scrutiny due to a Homeland Security GOP report that stated there had been almost 7.5 million illegal immigrant crossings, with 6.2 million occurring at the southwest border.
According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, officials recorded about 2.48 million occurrences in fiscal year 2023, marking the highest number in the nation’s history. These records are up 40% from FY 2021 and 4% from FY 2022.
Furthermore, it is alleged that 280 of those asylum seekers were on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) terrorist watch list over the past three years, according to immigration records provided by the agency.
“Americans feel less safe today than they did before the start of this administration, and your testimony has always solidified the view of American people that they don’t have confidence in the job that you’re doing,” Marshall said. “This is why I believe the defining issue in this next election is going to be exactly this: Are our families safer today than they were three years ago?”
During the hearing, Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) challenged Mayorkas on the subject of illegal immigrants released by federal officials.
“Where did these six million people go? Are you keeping track of them? To what extent do we have a handle on where these six million people are in America?” Johnson asked.
“As you well know, when an individual is indeed released, they are released into immigration enforcement proceedings and are subject to removal if they do not have a legal basis to remain in the United States,” Mayorkas said.
The conservative Heritage Foundation has filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration over a taxpayer-funded program that aims to connect conservative groups with neo-Nazis and white supremacist groups.
Advertisement
with David J. Harris Jr.
with Edward Ring
China’s most popular social media platforms have announced that “self-media” accounts with over 500,000 followers will be required to display real-name information.
Intel saw a more than 9% increase on Friday, sparking a surge in chip stocks as the personal computer market rebounds from its prolonged slump.
Amazon.com rose 7% on Friday as it competes with Microsoft for a larger share of the booming artificial intelligence market.
Malaysia’s communications regulator will issue a warning to social media firms TikTok and Meta for allegedly blocking pro-Palestinian content on their platforms.
rnrn
How does the unprecedented number of “gotaways” raise concerns about the effectiveness of border security measures?
Title: Homeland Security Secretary Reveals Alarming Number of “Gotaways” at U.S. Border
Introduction:
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently made a shocking revelation during a congressional hearing. He disclosed that over 600,000 individuals illegally crossed the United States border without being apprehended by border security during the 2023 fiscal year. This revelation has sparked intense scrutiny and raised concerns about the effectiveness of border security measures.
Mayorkas Testifies Before U.S. Senate Committee:
On Tuesday, Mayorkas testified before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for the annual ”Threats to the Homeland” hearing. It was during this hearing that he disclosed the staggering number of ”gotaways” – individuals who crossed the border unnoticed by border patrol agents.
Unprecedented Number of “Gotaways”:
The DHS Secretary revealed that over 600,000 people managed to illegally enter the U.S. without being apprehended during the 2023 fiscal year, which concluded on September 30th. These individuals were able to pass through the border undetected, highlighting a significant loophole in the immigration system.
Senator Marshall’s Inquiry:
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall questioned Mayorkas about the number of “gotaways” and their impact on border security. Mayorkas confirmed that the number exceeded 600,000 and acknowledged that this issue has been a long-standing challenge faced by the Department of Homeland Security.
Contradictory Claims:
Interestingly, members of the Senate committee pointed out that Mayorkas had consistently claimed in the past that the southern border was secure. These contrasting statements have now come under scrutiny, especially in light of a report by the Homeland Security GOP. The report stated that there were almost 7.5 million illegal immigrant crossings, with 6.2 million occurring at the southwest border.
Record-Breaking Occurrences:
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data revealed that there were approximately 2.48 million border occurrences recorded in fiscal year 2023, making it the highest number in the nation’s history. This represents a 40% increase from FY 2021 and a 4% increase from FY 2022. The surge in border incidents signals a significant challenge for border security agencies.
National Security Concerns:
The alarming revelation also brings attention to national security concerns. It is alleged that 280 of the individuals
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...