Mayorkas Says He’s ‘Not Aware’ of Cartels Using Illegal Immigrants to Distract Border Agents

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in Washington on March 28, 2023. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified at a Senate hearing on Tuesday that he is not aware of cartels using illegal immigrants as a decoy to distract border patrol agents while they smuggle drugs or other individuals across the border.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked Mayorkas specifically if he was familiar with the cartel strategy of sending illegal immigrants across the border to distract and overwhelm border agents while they transport drugs across the border.