On the same day that Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas defended the Biden administration’s border policies before the House Homeland Security Committee, hundreds of illegal immigrants crossed the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas. The crossing, captured in videos posted on social media, revealed migrants wading across the river while holding onto a rope.
Mayorkas, in his testimony, defended the administration’s approach, stating, “The Department continues to implement a border security strategy focused on enforcement, the expansion of lawful pathways, and agreements with regional partners.” He highlighted efforts to increase law enforcement personnel along the border and expedite the removal of noncitizens without a legal basis to remain in the United States.
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The incident occurred in a location recently visited by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Mayorkas has consistently asserted that the border is not open, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to a strategy that combines enforcement, lawful pathways, and international agreements.
Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin reported on the illegal crossing, stating, “Wow. Another massive illegal crossing taking place in Eagle Pass, TX right now.” Meanwhile, Auden B. Cabello, a citizen journalist, posted, “Happening Now: Eagle Pass under Siege as Hundreds Storm the Rio Grande.”
The surge in illegal immigration at the Rio Grande comes amid a broader trend, with over 2.45 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2023, according to data from United States Customs and Border Protection. This follows 2,378,944 encounters in fiscal year 2022 and 1,734,686 in fiscal year 2021.
