Former President Donald Trump made his return to the campaign trail in Arizona, marking his first appearance since being convicted as a felon. Addressing his supporters, Trump focused on familiar topics, criticizing his political adversaries and denouncing what he perceives as biased courts targeting him. He also took aim at President Biden's recent executive order on border security, dismissing it as 'fake' and questioning its legitimacy.
During his speech, Trump expressed his disdain for the ongoing impeachment proceedings and legal battles, labeling them as detrimental to the nation. Referring to Biden's executive action, Trump refrained from using explicit language in front of children but conveyed his skepticism towards the policy.
In response to Trump's remarks, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas refrained from engaging in political discourse, emphasizing that President Biden's executive action aimed to bolster border security in the absence of congressional action. Mayorkas clarified that the policy took effect immediately and would remain in place until specific conditions are met.
Mayorkas outlined that the border security measures would persist until there are seven consecutive days with an average encounter of fewer than 1,500 individuals at the southern border. He commended the swift implementation of the executive action by the Homeland Security workforce, highlighting the operational efficiency demonstrated in enforcing the new policy.