McCarthy laments border chaos in Arizona: 'Cartel is the largest employer'

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy visited the southern border on Thursday and met with local law enforcement to discuss the ongoing migration surge and threat from the drug cartels.

Speaking to reporters in Arizona, McCarthy lamented that the Sinaloa drug cartel had established control over much of the southern border. The speaker contended that the criminal organization had created a unique racket in the part of the border they controlled.

"What's different is what's coming across here... It's controlled... It's controlled by the cartel," McCarthy said. "The individuals who cross illegally on this border... come in camouflaged outfits."

"This is a fundamental problem but it's a problem created by this administration," he lamented, before pointedly criticizing Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who has claimed the situation is under control.

"[N]o one believes our border is secure," he went on, accusing Mayorkas of crafting immigration policies to manipulate federal statistics rather than directly address the issue. The speaker promised that Republicans would work to combat the efforts of the cartels and curtail administrative laxness on the issue.

"We will hold people accountable and that includes Secretary Mayorkas," he declared. "You cannot lie to the American people any longer."

The House speaker brought along several freshman Republican lawmakers, including Arizona Rep. Juan Ciscomani, in whose district he held the press conference. Ciscomani largely echoed McCarthy's remarks but also spoke to reporters in Spanish.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.