
ICE’s acting director slams Biden’s border policies, calling for urgent action and increased resources.
At a Glance
- ICE Acting Director P.J. Lechleitner criticizes Biden’s handling of the southern border
- Lechleitner states Biden should have acted sooner to secure the border
- DHS career officials reportedly prefer stricter border controls
- Lechleitner calls for more resources for CBP and ICE
- Biden’s June executive action led to a significant drop in illegal crossings
ICE Director’s Candid Critique of Biden’s Border Policies
In a revealing interview with NBC News, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director P.J. Lechleitner delivered a scathing assessment of President Joe Biden’s approach to the ongoing immigration crisis at the U.S. southern border. Lechleitner, speaking candidly in his final days in office, emphasized the need for more decisive action and increased resources to address the surge of illegal entries that has characterized Biden’s presidency.
Lechleitner’s critique comes at a time when the Biden administration has faced mounting pressure over its handling of border security. The acting director’s comments reflect a growing sentiment within law enforcement circles that more stringent measures are necessary to regain control of the situation.
Outgoing acting ICE Director Lechleitner tells @NBCNews that President Biden should “absolutely” have acted sooner to tighten border security to reduce the flow of migrants into the U.S. https://t.co/6ebd57OEtH
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) January 9, 2025
Calls for Earlier Action and Increased Resources
One of the key points raised by Lechleitner was the timing of the administration’s response to the border crisis. When asked if President Biden should have acted sooner to tighten border controls, Lechleitner’s response was unequivocal.
“Yes, yes, absolutely yes, he should have,” Lechleitner stated, adding, “I think the career people in DHS would have liked that. And all of us in DHS, quite frankly, I don’t know if anybody in DHS wouldn’t have wanted that earlier.” – Source
Lechleitner emphasized the need for increased allocation of resources to vital agencies like Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE. He argued that these additional resources would have enabled better management of the border situation and enhanced enforcement capabilities.
Impact of Recent Policy Changes
Despite his criticisms, Lechleitner acknowledged some positive developments. He noted that President Biden’s executive action in June to restrict asylum claims led to a significant drop in illegal border crossings. By November, illegal crossings had decreased to 46,000, the lowest since Biden took office.
However, Lechleitner expressed disappointment that more comprehensive measures were not implemented earlier in Biden’s term. He lamented the lack of action over the past four years, stating, “It’s unfortunate because I think we could have done more.” – Source
The acting director also highlighted the need for increased detention and removal operations, as well as more transparency and communication from the administration regarding immigration issues. He criticized sanctuary cities for not cooperating with ICE on immigration enforcement and emphasized the importance of prioritizing the arrest of migrants with criminal backgrounds.
Call for Greater Transparency and Communication
Lechleitner voiced frustration over the lack of public communication allowed by higher-ups in the administration. He advocated for more opportunities to explain ICE’s work and demystify its operations to the public.
“They should [have] allowed us more opportunity to explain what we’re doing and explain the hard work that ICE is doing and CBP is doing. Let us talk. Let us demystify. Because, if not, people are going to just make their own stories up about what’s going on, and it’s going to be more problematic.” – Source
As Lechleitner prepares to leave his position, his candid remarks serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges at the southern border and the need for a more robust and timely response from the Biden administration. The acting director’s insights provide a unique perspective from within the agency tasked with enforcing immigration laws, highlighting the complexities and urgency of addressing the nation’s border security concerns.
Sources:
- Biden’s Acting ICE Director Torches Him During Final Days In Office
- Outgoing ICE director says Biden ‘absolutely’ should have acted sooner to tighten the border