PJ Lechleitner, the outgoing director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, criticized President Biden for not acting sooner on border security.
Lechleitner stated that the influx of migrants forced him to repurpose staff to aid Customs and Border Protection, impacting ICE's core functions.
He emphasized that officials within Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had preferred earlier actions to restrict border crossings.
The June 2024 executive order resulted in a significant decrease in border crossings, but Lechleitner believes more could have been achieved with early interventions.
He expressed concerns over staffing and funding limitations, highlighting the need for more resources under the incoming Trump administration.