GOP Demands Action on Border Crisis After Alleged Leaked Audio of DHS Secretary Surfaces

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 26, 2021. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

GOP members urged the Biden administration to address the border crisis after leaked audio of Alejandro Mayorkas—Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—surfaced, which shows him calling the border situation “unsustainable.”

“Glad Secretary Mayorkas agrees—the situation at the border is ‘unsustainable.’ Now what is their plan to fix it?” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) wrote on Twitter Friday.

In leaked audio obtained by Fox News, Mayorkas allegedly told Border Patrol agents in Texas that the border crisis is “unsustainable” and “we’re going to lose” if “borders are the first line of defense.”

“We can’t continue like this, our people in the field cant continue, and our system isn’t built for it,” Mayorkas allegedly said in the audio Thursday, the same day he told reporters that the numbers of illegal aliens encountered are “unprecedented.”

On Thursday, Mayorkas announced 212,672 encounters in July, a 13 percent jump from 188,934 in June. It also marked the highest monthly total since March 2000.

A group of more than 350 illegal immigrants waits for Border Patrol after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico into Del Rio, Texas, on July 25, 2021. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, called on Mayorkas to resign following the surfacing of the audio.

“With his comments, Secretary Mayorkas demonstrated that he fully understands the catastrophe playing out at the border, and yet he lacks the skill, ability, and will to address it adequately,” Ducey said in a statement.

“A defeatist is not what we need when it comes to fighting for border security. It is time for Secretary Mayorkas to resign, and for him to be replaced with someone who will tell the American people the truth publicly, stand up to the radical activists inside the Biden-Harris administration, and once and for all end the crisis at the southern border,” the statement reads.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called the alleged remarks of Mayorkas as “the most honest words.”

“These are the most honest words I’ve heard from the mouth of Secretary Mayorkas. [President] Joe Biden has totally lost control of the border,” Hawley posted on Twitter.

“For once I agree with @SecMayorkas the border crisis is ‘unsustainable’ and ‘we’re going to lose.’” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton took to Twitter. “I’m glad they are acknowledging what I have been saying all along.”

Paxton has been fiercely fighting with the Biden administration’s border and immigration policies. As of July 14, Paxton has sued the Biden administration on behalf of Texas 11 times since Inauguration Day. Five of them are immigration-related.

Response from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was, “Joe Biden and [Vice President] Kamala Harris are the root cause.”

Cruz said that the Biden administration brought back the “catch and release” policy, halted construction of the border wall, and ended the “Remain in Mexico” policy.

Mayorkas has been facing growing pressure recently.

On Monday, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and 19 GOP House members sent a letter of inquiry to Mayorkas, demanding that the department provide more information on the border crisis or face compulsory action.

Chip has filed articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, Justthenews reported. He is seeking to hold the Secretary responsible for the border crisis.

DHS didn’t immediately respond to a request from The Epoch Times for comment.

Mayorkas once again blamed former President Donald Trump for the border crisis in his Thursday speech.

“Tragically, former President Trump slashed our international assistance to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Slashed the resources that we were contributing to address the root causes of irregular migration,” Mayorkas said. “Another reason is the end of the cruel policies of the past administration and the restoration of the rule of laws of this country that Congress has passed, including our asylum laws that provide humanitarian relief.”

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.