Mayorkas deflects when asked if ‘above 85%’ of illegal immigrants are released into the US

Homeland Protection Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas deflected questioning Wednesday on Capitol Hill when he was asked about a Fox News Electronic article stating that he has admitted to Border Patrol agents that the current level of release for illegal immigrants apprehended at the U.S. border is “higher than 85%.” 

Rep. Michael Guest, R-Skip., was grilling Mayorkas about the statistic for the duration of a Property Appropriations Committee listening to on Homeland Security’s fiscal 12 months 2025 spending plan request. 

“It was reported in January of this year that at a assembly with Border Patrol brokers, that you stated that the latest price of release for illegal immigrants apprehended at the southwest border is previously mentioned 85%. One, did that dialogue just take location and two, is that quantity correct?” the Republican from Mississippi asked Mayorkas. 

“Congressman, I’m not common with that variety and I am not selected to which dialogue you refer. I have frequented the border so very numerous times,” he responded. “Possibly some added details would guideline me in responding your issue properly.” 

MAYORKAS TELLS BORDER PATROL Agents THAT ‘ABOVE 85%’ OF Illegal IMMIGRANTS Produced INTO US: Sources 

Guest then read Mayorkas the opening paragraphs from the Fox News Digital report, which mentioned he “manufactured the remarks when conference privately with agents in Eagle Move, Texas, according to a few Border Patrol resources who were being in the space and read the remarks by themselves.” 

“Congressman, I’ll be happy to deliver you with the details factors, and absolutely I never view that write-up as a transcript,” Mayorkas mentioned. 

GOP Ideas TO GRIND SENATE TO A HALT IF DEMOCRATS Desk MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT Trial 

Mayorkas deflected Wednesday when asked about the data in the January 2024 Fox Information Digital report. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)

“So you happen to be not disputing this article? You’re not expressing that that variety is artificially substantial? You’re just stating at this stage that you really don’t have that selection below to either admit or deny the 85% that it was alleged there in the post?” Guest then requested. 

“I are unable to ensure, and I will do so,” Mayorkas said. 

A Homeland Protection formal instructed Fox Information Electronic that it can be a longstanding exercise to launch non-citizens who pose no menace to countrywide safety or community protection whilst their immigration proceedings are pending, noting that preceding administrations — both of those Republican and Democratic — have carried out so.

The official extra that the releases are important to ease overcrowding in Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities and to make sure the wellbeing and safety of the non-citizens.

Border patrol agents and Texas Nationwide Guardsmen study the area in the vicinity of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Sept. 27, 2023. (Benjamin Lowy for Fox News Digital )

While Mayorkas was at Eagle Pass in January, he also said “the vast majority of all Southwest Border migrant encounters all over this Administration have been removed, returned, or expelled — the majority of them” and that “we are carrying out every little thing we can, inside a broken system, to incentivize non-citizens to use lawful pathways, to impose repercussions on these who do not, and to lower irregular migration.”

The exchange Wednesday will come as Republican senators are gearing up to protect against all legislative enterprise in the Senate from going ahead if they really don’t get a full demo into the article content of impeachment against Mayorkas. The House voted to impeach Mayorkas in February. 

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Fox News’ Julia Johnson contributed to this report.