ICE Director Criticizes Biden's Border Policy Delays

Patrick Lechleitner, the outgoing acting director of ICE, has criticized President Joe Biden for not addressing the border crisis sooner, which he believes could have mitigated the immigration surge. Lechleitner, who took his position in July 2023, expressed disappointment in the delayed executive actions taken by Biden in June 2024, which resulted in a significant decrease in illegal border crossings. This executive order temporarily restricted asylum claims, reducing encounters to the lowest levels since Biden's tenure began. The ICE director, along with other DHS career officials, argued that earlier action could have better supported their mission and alleviated the strain on resources. Lechleitner's comments reflect broader criticisms from immigration officials who contend that Biden's rollback of Trump-era policies led to record numbers of illegal crossings. Despite these critiques, the White House has not directly addressed these concerns, and Biden has not publicly expressed regret over the handling of the border situation.