Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas attributed the Biden administration's delayed response to the border crisis to political maneuvering that obstructed bipartisan cooperation. In a recent interview, Mayorkas acknowledged that, looking back, executive measures might have been implemented sooner had the administration foreseen the political impasse that ultimately derailed promising bipartisan border security negotiations.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended the administration's border actions. (CBS News screenshot)

Mayorkas recounted the administration's efforts, starting with navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and the inherited Title 42 policy. He emphasized repeated requests to Congress for supplemental funding to address the strained immigration system, which were denied. Subsequent bipartisan negotiations, which yielded a promising solution, were ultimately thwarted, according to Mayorkas, by political gamesmanship.

A bipartisan border bill failed to advance in the Senate. (Justin Hamel/Getty Images)

The failed bill, a collaborative effort between Senators Lankford (R), Murphy (D), and Sinema (I), aimed to address border security challenges. Despite the White House largely attributing the bill's failure to Republican opposition, the vote revealed bipartisan resistance. Mayorkas expressed regret that, in retrospect, quicker executive action might have been preferable, given the political climate that ultimately undermined the bipartisan legislative attempt.

Mayorkas has faced criticism for previous assertions about border security. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)

Mayorkas's earlier claims of a “secure” border, made as recently as April 2023 despite record border crossings, have drawn considerable criticism, particularly from Republicans. This recent admission of potentially delayed executive action adds another layer to the ongoing debate surrounding the Biden administration's border policies.