From his comments, Mayorkas either feels his hands are tied or he’s blowing smoke. I’d say it’s the latter...
"Look, it's worse now than it, frankly, has been in at least 20 years, if not ever" at the border, Mayorkas reportedly said.
I think it's a little of both. The masters in Davos have given their orders and Mayorkas must carry them out, but he's happy to prevaricate when it may make him appear less guilty than he is.
I just can't watch this on the news feed, it's just too depressing.