DHS Deputy Mayorkas Speaks at NDN

On September 16th, the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas joined NDN at the National Press Club to discuss the Obama Administration's border security strategy and comprehensive response to the influx of unaccompanied minors in the Southwest border. He recapped the Administration's engaged in an aggressive response to stem the flow of Central American migrants. In July and August, this effort resulted in a dramatic drop in the number of migrants attempting to cross the southwest border.

We have posted the full transcript of his remarks here or in pdf form below. The Administration has an excellent summary of its efforts in this post on the White House Blog. R. Gil Kerlikowske, the Commisioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) runs through the most recent data and illustrates the steps taken to stem the crisis.

The event was covered in major publications, including:

"The child migrant crisis seems to be over. What happened?", Dara Lind, Vox.com, 9/19/14 

"DHS 'Will Respond Aggressively' To Reported Mistreatment of Immigrant Detainees," Elise Foley,Huffington Post, 9/16/14

"Homeland Security: No Evidence ISIS Plotting to Cross Southern Border," Jordan Fabian, Fusion, 9/16/14

"DHS Official: Feds, heat beating back surge of illegal border crossings," Benjamin Goad, The Hill, 9/16/14

"White House: Unaccompanied Minor Crisis All But Over," Jim Avila and Serena Marshall, ABC News, 9/16/14

"Deputy Homeland Security Secretary: Border More Secure Than Ever," Maya Rhodan, Time Magazine, 9/16/14

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