Mayorkas Says He’s ‘Not Aware’ Cartels Using Illegal Immigrants to Distract Border Agents
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified at a Senate hearing on Tuesday that he is not aware of cartels using illegal immigrants as a decoy to distract border patrol agents while they smuggle drugs or other individuals across the border.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked Mayorkas specifically if he was familiar with the cartel strategy of sending illegal immigrants across the border to distract and overwhelm border agents while they transport drugs across the border.
“I am not aware of that as a strategy,” Mayorkas replied.
Mayorkas offered that response even after Cornyn noted U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland had described his familiarity with the distraction strategy in a previous Senate hearing. Border Patrol officials also described the strategy in a House Oversight and Government Accountability Committee hearing last month….