Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) recent remarks that President Biden does not require legislation to implement new policies at the border.
“He is completely incorrect, completely incorrect. And in fact, former President Trump attempted to shut down the border but it was blocked in the courts and never happened,” Mayorkas stated on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“This is coming from someone who is intentionally refusing to coordinate, communicate, collaborate with other officials and causing chaos in other cities and states across the country. That is not a model of governance, and he is completely wrong,” he added.
Mayorkas joined Biden during a trip to the border in Texas this week, while Abbott joined President Trump on a visit to Eagle Pass as both 2024 candidates discussed how they would address migrant issues if reelected to the White House.
CNN co-anchor Dana Bash had asked Mayorkas to respond to comments made by Abbott on last week’s “State of the Union,” where he accused Biden of “not using his executive authority to do any of those things that Congress has already authorized,” adding that he “does not need new laws.”
“The president needs a backbone to make sure that he enforces the immigration laws that are already on the books,” Abbott said last week.
Some Republicans, including former President Trump, have claimed that Biden does not need new legislation to take action on the border as the Senate put forward a bipartisan deal with new provisions on national security and asylum. The deal fell apart in the Senate after some Republicans said the legislation did not do enough to address the border.
Mayorkas also urged Congress to approve the bipartisan deal proposed by the Senate last month.
“The truth is that Congress needs to act and President Biden said that Congress needs to get a backbone,” he added.
