Mayorkas describes 'tough trip' to the border after tense encounter with Border Patrol
One agent reportedly turned his back on Mayorkas during his border visit
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas described a recent "tough trip" to the U.S. southern border that included tense encounters with Border Patrol agents, some of whom he accused of acting "unprofessionally."
"It was a tough trip because we confronted a workforce … whose morale is struggling, is down and that's a responsibility I have to address it, and we certainly met when we got back with a whole team about how we were going to address the challenges," he said in a taped interview last week with Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz.
"I really appreciated the openness with which the agents expressed their views," he said. "A couple of guys might have expressed them what I felt was unprofessionally -- which was surprising to me because it's something I've never seen in the Border Patrol in my… eight years of person-to-person exposure."
"But the substance of what was communicated really called for action, and we’re jumping on it -- but we’ve got a lot of work to do," he said.
Ortiz had also been subjected to the anger of some agents with Mayorkas in the room.
"I get it," Ortiz said in one conversation. "You come to work, you’re frustrated. You’re upset because you didn’t get the desired outcome that you want. Doesn’t mean you give up."
As the conversation continued, other agents complained that "you keep releasing criminal aliens into the country."
"That’s the problem, chief," one agent interjected. "For evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. That’s exactly what’s happening here. Good men are doing nothing. You’re allowing illegal aliens to be dropped off in communities."
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One agent reportedly turned his back on Mayorkas during his border visit
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas described a recent "tough trip" to the U.S. southern border that included tense encounters with Border Patrol agents, some of whom he accused of acting "unprofessionally."
"It was a tough trip because we confronted a workforce … whose morale is struggling, is down and that's a responsibility I have to address it, and we certainly met when we got back with a whole team about how we were going to address the challenges," he said in a taped interview last week with Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz.
"I really appreciated the openness with which the agents expressed their views," he said. "A couple of guys might have expressed them what I felt was unprofessionally -- which was surprising to me because it's something I've never seen in the Border Patrol in my… eight years of person-to-person exposure."
"But the substance of what was communicated really called for action, and we’re jumping on it -- but we’ve got a lot of work to do," he said.
Ortiz had also been subjected to the anger of some agents with Mayorkas in the room.
"I get it," Ortiz said in one conversation. "You come to work, you’re frustrated. You’re upset because you didn’t get the desired outcome that you want. Doesn’t mean you give up."
As the conversation continued, other agents complained that "you keep releasing criminal aliens into the country."
"That’s the problem, chief," one agent interjected. "For evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. That’s exactly what’s happening here. Good men are doing nothing. You’re allowing illegal aliens to be dropped off in communities."
Mayorkas describes 'tough trip' to the border after tense encounter with Border Patrol
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas described a recent "tough trip" to the U.S. southern border that included tense encounters with Border Patrol agents, some of whom he accused of acting "unprofessionally."
