President Biden
Joe BidenBiden hampered by lack of confirmations Louisiana special election to replace Richmond at the helm of Larry Summers erupts .9 T stimulus as “less responsible” economic policy in 40 years MORESecretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro Mayorkas: The number of migrant children in US custody rose from 15,000: Sunday’s report shows the preview: the Biden administration faces an increase in borders; US laments victims of Atlanta shooting Mexico launches measures to limit border crossings from Guatemala MORE, collided with the Fox News host Chris Wallace
Christopher (Chris) Wallace The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Facebook – What’s happening on the border with the United States The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Biden will be launched, all COVID-19 relief law Fauci urges Trump to tell them that supporters should be vaccinated MORE on Sunday for access to the press at the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) facilities where migrant children are housed before being transferred to the Health and Human Services (HHS) housing.
During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Wallace asked Mayorkas why journalists have not had access to CBP’s facilities, particularly during his recent trip to the border with a congressional delegation.
Mayorkas responded by citing concerns related to COVID-19, adding that the administration is “working to provide images” of CBP’s facilities for news organizations.
Wallace rejected that the pandemic of more than a year was tantamount to an “excuse” for not allowing journalists to enter, and argued that there had to be a secure way for them to be granted access to a journalist and a camera equipment.
“We’re working on providing access so people can see what the conditions are like inside a border patrol facility,” Mayorkas told Wallace.
“Certainly, journalists can see health shelters and human services where children are housed for longer periods of time,” he added.
The DHS secretary’s comments were later mocked on the show by the senator. Tom Cotton
Tom Bryant CottonSunday shows the preview: the Biden administration faces an increase in the border; US mourns shooting in Atlanta GOP senators introduce bill to push for tougher trade stance against China GOP takes steps to ban trans athletes MORE (R-Ark.), Which destroyed Mayorkas for appearing, albeit virtually, on Wallace’s show.
“It’s rich that Secretary Mayorkas won’t let the press travel with him … but he’ll come to your show,” Cotton said.
Mayorkas faced similar questions during an interview Sunday in “Meet The Press” and called “unequivocally false” the claim that border patrol officers were under a gag order.
“Let’s be clear here. We are in the middle of a pandemic. We are, because of the president’s extraordinary leadership, getting out of it faster than ever. But we are still in the middle of the pandemic,” he said. he told NBC.
“Border patrol agents are focused on operations, on securing the border, on meeting the needs of vulnerable children. At the moment we are not focused on travel,” Mayorkas added.
He calls for the press to be allowed to see the conditions in the facilities where migrant children have been housed in recent weeks, amid an increase in unaccompanied minors arriving on the U.S.-Mexico border.
CBS News reported Saturday that the number of minors who were housed by the United States after arriving at the border exceeded 15,000, including approximately 5,000 at a temporary tent facility operated by CBP along the border.