Homeland Security Secretary slammed Abbott's approach to immigration

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro slammed The Texas Administration for what he perceives to be politicized immigration policy and the "unconscionable" management of asylum-seekers.

"This is the first time in my 20 to 22 years of government service that I see a state act in direct contravention of national interests, and in the service of what I would respectfully submit: politics," Mayorkas said during a panel at The Texas Tribune Festival on Friday.

In conversation with Laura Barrón-López, the White House Correspondent for PBS News Hour, Mayorkas criticized Gov. Greg Abbott's immigration enforcement policies and questioned his intentions behind actions like the state-funded bus rides that sent more than 120,000 asylum seekers to 6 "sanctuary cities" over the last 2 years.

"Is it purely to wreak havoc and disorder in the receiving communities to make a political point?" he asked. "It is unconscionable, to me, from the point of view of governance, in the interest of communities, as well from a humanitarian perspective."

Texas has taken an aggressive approach towards immigration as part of Operation Lone Star, sending state troopers and state National Guard soldiers to the border and arresting migrants under the suspicion of having crossed illegally. The state now works to put into effect Senate bill 4, a policy that would allow for law enforcement to arrest all individuals based on their immigration status.

SB4 pushes back on federal jurisdiction over immigration-related arrests. In March, a federal judge blocked the law from rolling out, and the battle is still in court. Mayorkas expressed concern and asked "how exactly is that going to be carried out?"

"Hopefully we don't reach that point," he concluded.

Mayorkas, who oversees immigration and border security at the federal level, said over the last year the Biden administration has been making strides and taking executive actions towards a long term solution to immigration.

According to the Secretary, if elected, Vice President Kamala Harris would revive a bipartisan border security bill that was killed by Republicans in May 2024. The legislation seeked to crack down migration and reduce border crossings, but it was blocked by nearly every GOP senator and six Democrats.