Recently, audio was leaked on social media that featured New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham slamming the Biden administration over the ongoing border crisis. Grisham sounded off on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, suggesting she might write a letter accusing him of failing to work with New Mexico on securing the border.
X account Chaos Coordinator shared the audio, where Grisham can be heard voicing her frustration toward Sec. Mayorkas and lamenting her lack of border patrol resources. “For the love of god, put [Border Patrol agents] at the border in Sunland Park where I don’t have a single Border Patrol agent — not one. And people pour over. And so I’m cranky with the Secretary.”
Grisham further complained about Mayorkas’ lack of cooperation with her on the border, where the press is now accusing her of incompetently managing the crisis unfolding in her state. “He knew that was coming, did not say a word to me. Politico wants to write an article. Every single major press group in the state is asking me repeatedly, basically accusing me of being feckless. I mean they’re all going to run with it,” the governor continued.
The recorded conversation largely pertained to the federal government’s seizure of licensed medical and recreational cannabis at Border Patrol checkpoints. She added, “They’re saying that they’re worried about fentanyl, so they’re taking all of our cannabis. And they tried to detain people. Never done that. We just use discretion, looked the other way.”
The liberal governor added that if the status quo continued, she would be compelled to send a letter to Mayorkas claiming that the Department of Homeland Security is “persecuting” New Mexico by refusing to help mitigate the border crisis.
“But the press also knows that Border Patrol is taking a hard stance, and the only way is either we have to adjust it or I have to send you a letter saying ‘you’re persecuting the state, you are not using your discretion, you’re not working with me on immigration,’” Grisham said in the audio. However, she noted, “And I don’t want to send out a letter, but I’m, I’m boxed in hard.”
Grisham’s office addressed the leaked audio in a statement to the Daily Caller, where an official confirmed the authenticity of the unauthorized audio recording of what was intended to be a private conversation. The statement explained that Grisham’s opinions in the recording had already been publicly voiced and brought up to Mayorkas.
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“This unauthorized and edited recording of the governor’s private phone call reflects what she has already said publicly — that she is frustrated by federal seizures of licensed cannabis products in New Mexico, particularly those from small producers. She has expressed the same concerns in phone calls with Secretary Mayorkas,” stated Michael Coleman, a communications director for Gov. Grisham.
In recent months, Congressional Republicans have sought to impeach Sec. Mayorkas claiming he is failing to fulfill his duty of protecting the southern border. In February, the House successfully voted to impeach Mayorkas. However, the Democrat-led Senate recently shot down the initiative.
Featured image credit: By U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Joins US President Joe Biden at FEMA Headquarters, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136857859