Vice President Kamala Harris says she’s heard the end of Title 42 is “going pretty well,” even though border governors have dropped off migrants at her home and thousands of migrants remain stuck in processing.
Harris spent her weekend in the affluent Atlanta suburb of Buckhead while fundraising for the Georgia Democratic Party, the third time she has visited the swing state this year alone.
The state’s Republican Party called it “deplorable” that Harris “is coming to Atlanta for a fundraising campaign as the border crisis boils over and we have inflation out of control” in a statement.
Responding to this criticism, Harris said everything she heard about the border crisis was apparently correct.
“I hear everything over the last two days is going pretty well given the concerns,” Harris said.
Vice President Kamala Harris says she’s heard the end of Title 42 is “going pretty well,” even though border governors have dropped off migrants at her house.
She then doubled down on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ choice to blame Congress.
“The issue of immigration is fully the responsibility of the United States Congress. We did what we could but Congress needs to pass legislation,” she added.
The Georgia Democratic Party chairman didn’t tell WSB-TV the exact amount Harris raised, saying only “it was a lot.”
The end of Title 42 has led to overcrowding at the Border Patrol Central Processing Facility in El Paso, with Fox News reporting that the 1,000-capacity building had more than 6,000 people stranded inside. interior.
During Thursday and Friday, at least 70 migrants were dropped off at the gates of Harris in Washington DC in the past 24 hours, as the Governor of Texas continues his policy of busing migrants from his state to directed cities by Democrats.
Greg Abbott, the governor, has sent at least 17,000 migrants from Texas to DC, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia since April 2022. More than 9,200 have been sent to DC, and Abbott over the weekend defended the move, saying that it was designed to share the burden.
“The reason we are transporting migrants across the country is that small towns on the border like Del Rio and Eagle Pass don’t have the capacity to handle the number of people crossing the border,” he said. he told Fox News.
“And we need to relieve congestion in smaller communities and buses to larger communities.”
A US Border Patrol agent watches immigrants enter a vehicle to be transported from a makeshift camp within the border walls between the United States and Mexico on Sunday
Immigrants gather at a makeshift camp wedged between US-Mexico border walls
Migrants are pictured disembarking from a bus in Washington DC on Thursday, having traveled from Texas
Migrants have been dropped off at various liberal enclaves, including Harris’ home, since last year by Republican governors
The Naval Observatory houses the residence of the Vice President
Thursday night’s video showed about 30 migrants disembarking from buses parked outside the Naval Observatory, where Harris lives with her husband Doug Emhoff. The clip was filmed shortly before the lifting of Title 42 border rules – a move that many believe will trigger a surge in the number of migrants attempting to cross.
It was unclear if she was home: Earlier Thursday, she attended an event at the National Museum of Asian Art in DC.
On Wednesday, a bus carrying 40 migrants arrived at its gates.
The mostly Venezuelan men, women and children were received by SAMU First Response and Mutual Aid, which was to provide them with emergency shelter and guidance on possible next steps.
It is the second time buses full of migrants have been sent to the vice president’s home after Abbott ferried arrivals from the southern border to the same address last year.
DC’s temporary housing program has reached capacity, with no room available since last week, according to the District Department of Social Services, with 1,249 migrants from 370 families spread across three area hotels.
The strain on the system – with 10,000 migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border every day – comes as pandemic-era border restrictions, Title 42, are lifted.
Under Title 42, migrants could be immediately deported to Mexico or their country of origin.
The Biden administration has argued that all pandemic-era policies should be lifted, and at midnight EST Thursday, Title 42 was revoked.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz was in Brownsville, Texas on Thursday night to address the border crisis.
Cruz appeared furious as he was surrounded by members of the Border Patrol and Texas National Guard, accusing the Biden administration of “deliberately” creating the situation.
“We are witnessing an absolute parody taking place on our southern border,” Cruz began in a four-minute rant.
“On Monday we apprehended over 10,000 people at the border – the highest level in history.
“On Tuesday we apprehended over 10,000 people at the border, again the highest level in history.
“There are right now, where we are standing, over 22,000 people are camping just south of the border, preparing to cross,” Cruz said.
“Just at this place, in less than a month, more than 35,000 Venezuelans have crossed illegally right here.”
Republican Senator Ted Cruz traveled to Brownsville, Texas on Thursday night to observe the border crisis just hours before Title 42 restrictions expired
Cruz spoke with members of the US Border Patrol and praised their efforts
Cruz called the situation at the border an “invasion” accusing the Biden administration of wanting to increase the numbers while praising the border patrol
On Thursday night, Cruz predicted the situation would continue to escalate
Joe Biden admitted there would likely be chaos at first, and his Homeland Security Secretary warned migrants not to believe the “lies of the smugglers”, insisting the border was not open.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said this week that his officials had reported human traffickers telling migrants the border was open to all.
“We have 24,000 Border Patrol agents and officers on the southwestern border and have brought in thousands of soldiers and contractors, and over a thousand asylum officers to help enforce our laws. “, Mayorkas said on Thursday.
“Do not believe the lies of the smugglers. The border is not open.
Mayorkas and the Biden administration have faced an onslaught of criticism for the border scenes, as thousands of migrants gather in hopes of entering the United States now that restrictions have ended.
Mayorkas attempted on Thursday to tell those aiming to cross that it was a bad decision.
“From tonight, people who arrive at the border without taking a legal route will be presumed ineligible for asylum,” he tweeted.
“We stand ready to humanely treat and return people without a legal basis to stay in the United States.
“Individuals who do not use available legal pathways to enter the United States now face more severe consequences, including a re-entry ban of at least five years and possible criminal prosecution.”
“Along with our partners in the federal government and the Western Hemisphere, we are ready for this transition.”
Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security Secretary, posted a video on Twitter late Thursday warning of stiff penalties if migrants cross illegally, as Title 42 is rescinded
From tonight, people who arrive at the border without taking a legal route will be presumed ineligible for asylum. We stand ready to humanely treat and return people without a legal basis to stay in the United States (1/4) pic.twitter.com/JnpSw6793v
— Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (@SecMayorkas) May 12, 2023
The expiring rules have been in place since March 2020.
They enabled border officials to quickly turn asylum seekers across the border to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
US authorities have unveiled tough new measures to replace Title 42, which cracks down on illegal crossings while establishing legal avenues for migrants to apply online, seek a sponsor and undergo background checks.
If successful, the reforms could fundamentally change the way migrants arrive at the US-Mexico border.
