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Mexican border is facing a 'stressful challenge' but not a crisis, Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas claims - and says 'the prior administration dismantled our nation's immigration system in its entirety'

  Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas inveighed against the Trump Administration's   immigration   policy during an appearanc...

 Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas inveighed against the Trump Administration's immigration policy during an appearance in the White House briefing room Monday it took apart the immigration system 'in its entirety.'

Mayorkas said the administration 'tore down' systems in place for Central American minors and 'gutted' the system overall – even as he acknowledged there is currently a 'stressful challenge' at the border, as waves of migrants continue to try to make it into the U.S. despite the administration's urgings. 

'I have explained that quite clearly. We are challenged at the border. The men and women of the Department of Homeland Security, are meeting that challenge,' Mayorkas said.


'It is a stressful challenge. That is why, quite frankly we are working as hard as we are not only in addressing the urgency of the challenge, but also in building the capacity to manage it, and to meet our humanitarian aspirations in execution of the President's vision,' he said. 

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington where he trashed the Trump Administration's immigration policy

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington where he trashed the Trump Administration's immigration policy

Homeland Security says immigration system was 'dismantled'
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He declined to call the hundreds of new arrivals each day at the border a 'crisis.' 

He ripped the administration for its child separation policy and for rolling back asylum claims, even as the new Biden administration has taken flack for continuing to detain migrants at the border.  

'Let me explain to you why it is hard and why it is going to take time. I think it is important to understand what we have inherited, because it defines the situation as it currently stands.'

'Entire systems are not rebuilt in a day or in a few weeks. To put it succinctly, the prior administration dismantled our nation's immigration system in its entirety. When I started 27 days ago, I learned that we did not have the facilities available or equipped to administer the humanitarian laws that our Congress passed years ago,' Mayorkas continued.

Mayorkas acknowledged the nation was 'challenged' at the border. Here migrants from Central America camp outside the El Chaparral border crossing, hoping to cross and request asylum in the U.S, in Tijuana, Mexico February 27, 2021

Mayorkas acknowledged the nation was 'challenged' at the border. Here migrants from Central America camp outside the El Chaparral border crossing, hoping to cross and request asylum in the U.S, in Tijuana, Mexico February 27, 2021

Mayorkas blasted the Trump administration's child separation policy

Mayorkas blasted the Trump administration's child separation policy

He appeared at the White House briefing room and denounced Trump Administration policies

He appeared at the White House briefing room and denounced Trump Administration policies

Migrants from Central America, under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program, walk across the Paso del Norte international border bridge from the Mexican side to continue their asylum request in the United States, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico February 26, 2021

Migrants from Central America, under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program, walk across the Paso del Norte international border bridge from the Mexican side to continue their asylum request in the United States, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico February 26, 2021

First group of migrants cross US/Mexico border under Biden admin
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'We did not have the personnel, policies, procedures, or training to administer those laws, Quite frankly, the entire system was gutted. In addition, they tore down the Central American minors program that allowed children to access laws and protection without having to take the perilous journey north. 

'They cut off funding to the northern triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras,' he said. He claimed 'no planning' had been done to protect U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel.'

Mayorkas urged immigrants to avoid coming to the U.S. right now, even as the administration has come out for legislation providing a path to citizenship for many migrants already here.

"They need to wait. It takes time to rebuild the system from scratch. If they come, if families come, if single adults come to the border, we are obligated to, in the service of public health, including the health of the very people who are thinking of coming, to impose to travel restrictions,' he said.

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