President Biden
Joe BidenBiden Bothered By Lack Of Confirmations Louisiana Special Election To Replace Richmond Heads To Larry Summers Blasts .9 T Stimulus As ‘Least Responsible’ Economic Policy In 40 Years MORE‘s Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro Mayorkas Number of Migrant Children in US Custody Passed 15,000: Report Sunday Shows Preview: Biden Administration Struggles With Border Rise; US mourns Atlanta killed victims Mexico launches measures to restrict border crossings from Guatemala MORE, Fox News host clashed Chris Wallace
Christopher (Chris) Wallace The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented By Facebook – What’s Happening At The US Border The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By Facebook – Biden to hit road, tout COVID-19 relief law Fauci urges Trump to Telling supporters to be vaccinated MORE on Sunday, press access to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) facilities housing migrant children before being transferred to Health and Human Services (HHS) housing.
During a performance on “Fox News Sunday,” Wallace Mayorkas asked why reporters were denied access to CBP facilities, particularly during his recent trip to the border with a congressional delegation.
Mayorkas responded by raising concerns over COVID-19, adding that the government is “in the process of providing footage” of CBP facilities for news organizations.
Wallace argued that the more than a year-long pandemic was an “excuse” for not letting reporters in, stating that there had to be a secure way for a press pool reporter and camera crew to access it.
“We are working to provide access so that individuals can see what conditions are like within a border security facility,” Mayorkas told Wallace.
“Reporters can certainly see health and human services shelters housing children for extended periods of time,” he added.
The DHS secretary’s comments were mocked later on the show by Sen. Tom Cotton
Tom Bryant CottonSunday Shows Preview: Biden Administration Struggles With Border Rise; US mourns shooting victims in Atlanta GOP senators pass bill to strengthen tougher trade stances against China GOP takes measures to block trans athletes MORE (R-Ark.), Die Mayorkas knocked because she appeared, albeit virtually, on Wallace’s program.
“It’s rich that Secretary Mayorkas won’t let the press travel with him … but he’ll come to your show,” Cotton said.
Mayorkas was asked similar questions during an interview on Sunday on “Meet The Press,” calling the allegation that border police officers were under a warrant “unequivocally false”.
“Let’s be clear here. We are in the middle of a pandemic. We are climbing out faster than ever before because of the president’s extraordinary leadership. But we are still in the middle of the pandemic,” he says. said on NBC.
“Border Patrol agents are focused on operations, on securing the border, on meeting the needs of vulnerable children. We are not focused on riding at the moment,” Mayorkas added.
The call to allow the press to see conditions in facilities housing migrant children has grown in recent weeks amid a wave of unaccompanied minors arriving at the US-Mexico border.
CBS News reported Saturday that the number of minors housed by the US has exceeded 15,000 upon arrival at the border, including about 5,000 housed in a temporary tent facility operated by CBP along the border.