Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director P.J. Lechleitner recently expressed his opinion that President Joe Biden should have acted more quickly to strengthen border security and reduce the number of migrants entering the United States.
Lechleitner, who took on the role in July 2023 and is set to leave his position this week as a new administration brings in its appointee, shared his thoughts during an interview with NBC News.
He pointed out that the increasing number of migrants meant that ICE had to allocate its resources to assist Customs and Border Protection (CBP), making it difficult for the agency to focus on its core mission. According to Lechleitner, many within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shared the same belief—that earlier action could have helped alleviate some of the pressure.
Lechleitner’s comments referred to an executive order signed by President Biden in June 2023 that aimed to restrict people who entered the country illegally from seeking asylum.
Following the order, the number of illegal border crossings dropped significantly, reaching 54,000 in September, which was the lowest monthly total since Biden took office. This decline brought the figures in line with border crossing numbers seen during President Trump’s administration in 2019. The figures continued to fall, with only 46,000 illegal crossings recorded in November.
The change was so rapid that Texas Governor Greg Abbott could no longer find enough migrants to fill buses to send to cities like New York and Chicago, as he had done earlier in the Biden administration.
Lechleitner, however, clarified that his opinions did not reflect the views of the current administration, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a separate interview with USA Today, President Biden was asked if he had any regrets regarding the border situation. Still, he did not mention any concerns about the southern border. Lechleitner, on the other hand, was not surprised that Biden did not view the lack of action as a regret.
Lechleitner felt that the situation could have been improved, stating that more resources could have been allocated to CBP and ICE, and efforts could have been made to address the issue of individuals being arrested outside ICE custody. He emphasized that ICE could have detained and removed more individuals if they had more resources and support.
Having been with DHS since its creation in 2003, Lechleitner noted that he had often requested additional funding for an agency that he described as chronically underfunded.
ICE deported over 47,000 migrants in fiscal year 2024, but Lechleitner explained that this number could not have been higher with the available resources. He stressed the need for more funding and personnel to expand ICE’s detention and removal operations.
Lechleitner also expressed frustration over the lack of transparency from the Biden administration, stating that greater communication with the American public could have helped reduce misinformation. He wished that the administration had allowed his agency to explain its work more openly, as this would have helped demystify ICE’s operations.
One specific issue Lechleitner mentioned was the difficulty in working with cities that follow sanctuary policies, which prevent local authorities from notifying ICE when undocumented individuals are released from jail. Lechleitner criticized these policies, stating that they hindered efforts to protect public safety and national security.
Looking ahead, Lechleitner wished the incoming administration well but cautioned that if it were serious about prioritizing the arrest of migrants with criminal backgrounds, it would require significant resources and effort.
He noted that the American public had made it clear that immigration enforcement is a priority. Still, for ICE to do its job effectively, it would need more support and resources, including more personnel.
Lechleitner concluded by reiterating that with the right resources, ICE and its partners could do more to address the immigration challenges facing the country and ensure the safety of the American public.
Disclaimer: This article has been meticulously fact-checked by our team to ensure accuracy and uphold transparency. We strive to deliver trustworthy and dependable content to our readers.
Leave a Comment