Florida U.S. Rep. Gaetz Blasts DHS Sec. Mayorkas at Congressional Hearing
May 3, 2022 | Florida
Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz blasted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing on border security.
In his line of questioning, Gaetz asked Mayorkas about the removal process of 1.2 million people who are in the U.S. illegally who’ve been given deportation orders by judges and haven’t been removed.
“1.2 million people are undetained, free, roaming about the country,” Gaetz said. “They’ve gone before a judge. A judge has issued a final order of removal.”
“How many ICE agents do you need to deport them?” he asked Mayorkas.
Mayorkas replied, “Congressman I think what we need is legislation to fix the broken immigration system.”
“We don’t need legislation to overcome a final order of removal,” Gaetz replied. “I get it. You want comprehensive immigration reform and a big amnesty thing. Very unlikely that’s going to happen. So, we have to operate under the laws that exist now. So, under the laws that exist now, a judge has told 1.2 million people that they have no right to be here.”
He asked Mayorkas again, “Do you plan to remove those 1.2 million people?” He also asked again how much money DHS needed to deport them.
In response, Mayorkas said, “Congressman, there are a number of questions that your question raises with respect to whether all of those individuals actually have been given due process.”… (Excerpt from the Virginia Star)
