With the start of the government fiscal year this month, acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Mark Morgan Tuesday addressed the media in a White House briefing.
He opened the press conference by honoring the memory of Border patrol agent Robert Hotten who died Sunday near Patagonia in an incident currently being investigated by the FBI.
Morgan then blamed drug cartels and Congress for exacerbating the humanitarian crisis on the border.
“This administration’s strategies have brought about results, dramatic results. While Congress has failed to put forth a single piece of legislation, even be able to introduce it to the floor to address this crisis, we have addressed this crisis," Morgan said.
He said in fiscal year 2019, CBP’s enforcement actions on the Southwest border totaled nearly 1 million — 88% higher than 2018.
According to the CBP website, “ enforcement actions” include apprehensions, arrests, interviews, searches and surveillance.
