The U.S. southern border is a warzone of chaos, and many are pointing fingers at one man: Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Critics claim he’s not just mishandling the border—he’s deliberately orchestrating the worst illegal immigration crisis in U.S. history. But is it true? Should Mayorkas be thrown behind bars for what some call a betrayal of the American people? Buckle up, because this story is about to ignite your group chats and spark heated debates across Threads.

Let’s cut through the noise. Since Mayorkas took office in 2021, the U.S. has seen an unprecedented surge in illegal border crossings—over six million encounters reported by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) since President Biden’s administration began. That’s more than the population of some states! December 2023 alone saw nearly 250,000 illegal crossings, a record-breaking monthly high. Critics argue Mayorkas has dismantled effective policies, leaving the border wide open. They point to the termination of the “Remain in Mexico” program, which required asylum seekers to wait south of the border, and the halting of border wall construction as deliberate moves to invite chaos. One source even claims Mayorkas admitted to Congress that his policies would lead to “unsustainable” migration levels—yet he pushed forward anyway.

The fallout? Cities like Chicago are buckling under the weight of accommodating migrants, with millions in taxpayer dollars diverted to housing and healthcare. Medicaid spending on emergency services for illegal immigrants reportedly jumped from $3 billion in 2020 to over $7 billion in 2021. Meanwhile, border states are grappling with overwhelmed facilities, and cartels are cashing in, raking in billions by exploiting gaps in security. A sheriff testifying to Congress revealed a chilling cartel member’s words: “As long as fentanyl is killing Americans, we’re okay.” This is the reality critics tie to Mayorkas’ watch.

But hold up—there’s another side. Supporters argue Mayorkas is stuck with a broken system, not of his making. The U.S. immigration framework has been a mess for decades, with backlogs of over a million deportation cases clogging courts. Mayorkas himself has called it a “challenge,” not a crisis, and insists Congress must act to fix it. He’s pushed for legal pathways to ease border pressure, arguing that expelling every migrant isn’t feasible or humane. Under Title 42, a public health rule, most single adults were expelled during the pandemic, but families and unaccompanied minors often stayed due to legal protections. His defenders say he’s balancing law enforcement with compassion, navigating a system where the Department of Justice, not DHS, handles deportation courts, and Health and Human Services manages minors.

Still, the accusations are explosive. House Republicans voted in 2024 to impeach Mayorkas, alleging he’s willfully ignored immigration laws. They cite his 2021 memo, which critics claim deprioritized deportations, letting over 600,000 migrants with criminal records or charges roam free. One case that’s set social media ablaze: a Haitian migrant, paroled into the U.S. under a Biden program, allegedly raped a disabled teen in a Massachusetts shelter. Stories like these fuel calls for Mayorkas to face not just impeachment but jail time. “He’s turned our border into a free-for-all!” one Threads user raged, echoing a sentiment that’s gone viral.

But is jail realistic? Legally, it’s a stretch. Impeachment is one thing—criminal charges require proof of intentional lawbreaking, not just bad policy. Mayorkas’ supporters argue he’s executing Biden’s vision, not committing crimes. They point to his immigrant roots—born in Cuba, raised in the U.S.—as shaping a perspective that sees America as a nation of laws and immigrants. Critics, though, call this a cop-out, accusing him of dodging accountability while cartels and communities suffer.

The debate is a powder keg. On one hand, you’ve got folks screaming for justice, convinced Mayorkas is a traitor enabling crime and chaos. On the other, defenders argue he’s a scapegoat for a dysfunctional system, doing his best under impossible constraints. Threads is buzzing with takes: “Lock him up!” clashes with “Fix the system, don’t blame one guy!” What’s undeniable is the human cost—migrants risking death, communities stretched thin, and a nation divided.

So, should Mayorkas be jailed? The answer hinges on whether you see him as a mastermind of chaos or a bureaucrat caught in the crossfire. One thing’s for sure: this story isn’t going away. Share your take on Threads and let’s see how many  emojis this debate racks up. Is Mayorkas the villain, or is the system the real crime? Click to dive deeper into the border firestorm