Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security Secretary, stated on Monday that the rate of disease among illegal immigrants who have come to the United States-Mexico border in the past few months is at around 20 percent.
This was days following disclosing that thousands of Haitian migrants who established temporary barracks under a Del Rio bridge in Texas were not tested for COVID-19. He remarked he did the devastating rise of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated the Delta surge was unprecedented. (Photo: NDTV)
Not Built for COVID-19 Environment
According to Mayorkas, one in five migrants are arriving at the border with a disease. “We are confronted with a population of people that, as a general matter, have a rate of illness of approximately 20%. When one is speaking of 7,000 or 7,500 people encountered at the border every day, if one takes a look at that system, it is not built for that in a COVID environment where isolation is required.”
1 in 5 Migrants
The secretary remarked at the online Immigration Law and Policy Conference on Monday, they took a step back due to the surge of the Delta variant. He added it was unprecedented to be in the position they are now in late September. Mayorkas continued that one in five migrants are arriving at the border with a disease.
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On the DHS secretary’s evaluation regarding why it seems like United States officials were not privy to what was transpiring and how thousands of people could go to Mexico not fend off and undetected. On the ground, reporters are interested in whether smugglers were involved. According to Mayorkas, they found the photographs to be tragic and they appropriately and adequately piqued the attention of the US.
Investigation
He affirmed to the public they are probing into the situation quickly and meticulously. The data of their probing will determine the results and their approach. Mayorkas said the probing of the Haitian migrants’ treatment will conclude swiftly and will be divulged to the public.
On Friday, the encampment under the bridge connecting Ciudad Acuña, Mexico with Del Rio was cleared. This was less than a week after approximately 15,000 migrants had convened in the area. They were waiting to be picked up by border officials.
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