The southern US border was secure in 2022
| The southern US border was secure in 2022 | |
|---|---|
| MISLEADING | |
| "Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in 2022 that the US southern border was secure." | |
| Domain | Immigration & Migration |
| Tactic | False Context |
| Era | Current |
| First seen | 2022 |
| Origin | Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, in interviews in 2022, under President Joe Biden |
| Last reviewed | 2026-11-01 |
| Further reading: books on Immigration & Migration | |
In 2022, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in several interviews that "the border is secure." He said he meant that the department was enforcing the law and that the border was "not open."
At the time, US Customs and Border Protection recorded the highest number of migrant encounters at the southwest border in its history.
What the evidence shows
- Record encounters. CBP reported about 2.4 million encounters at the southwest border in fiscal year 2022, then a record.
- Definitions. Mayorkas and his department said "secure" referred to operational control and enforcement, not to the number of crossings. Critics, including Democrats in border districts, said the statement did not match conditions.
- Impeachment. The House impeached Mayorkas in February 2024, citing his handling of the border. The Senate dismissed the articles in April 2024 without a trial.
Why it matters
A narrow definition of a word can make a statement technically defensible and still misleading to the public.
Sources
- US Customs and Border Protection, "Southwest Land Border Encounters," fiscal year 2022 data.
- The Washington Post Fact Checker, on Mayorkas's "the border is secure" statements, 2022.
- US House of Representatives, H.Res. 863, articles of impeachment against Alejandro Mayorkas, February 13, 2024.