Seeing former Trump officials suddenly defend a free press. The truth: yes, at height of separations they did let us in to CBP "epicenter," as Katie Miller called it, in McAllen. But never with our own cameras, and, as she told me then, to head off visit by Congressional Dems.
Later, in 2019, after Trump retreated on family separations and CBP facilities became horribly overcrowded, they did allow cameras into CBP facilities. Biden admin should do the same, and include local journalists.
NEW: Biden transition officials say Trump admin delayed action on adding capacity for unaccompanied migrant minors. "They were sitting on their hands," one officials told NBC News. "It was incredibly frustrating." With @JuliaEAinsley and @strickdc. nbcnews.com/politics/immig…
Government official who served under both Trump and Biden said non-political staff also brought up the need to open more space. The official said it was "irresponsible of the Trump administration not to listen to us when we were throwing up red flags." nbcnews.com/politics/immig…
It was not until five days before the Biden inauguration that Trump's HHS Secretary Alex Azar finally issued a "Request for Assistance," which started the multi-week process of surveying sites to increase capacity. Biden opened Carrizo Springs on Feb. 22. nbcnews.com/politics/immig…
People seeking asylum won’t stop because a U.S. president says stern things like “don’t come.” Obama tried — didn’t work. Trump separated families — didn’t work. It won’t work for Biden. Deterrence and punishment do not work. Thanks @TheView for having me.
Here’s the second half of my conversation this morning with @TheView team about the situation at the border — we specifically discuss the leaked photos of the overcrowded Border Patrol facility.
Biden admin is clear about wanting to build a fair, safe and orderly immigration system. But keeping reporters out of facilities currently overcrowded with children — preventing people from seeing what it is they want to change — doesn’t help their case.
I should also add, lawyers have not been able to gain access to the Donna facility -- only to interview minors detained there in a designated area.
To be clear: I'm not advocating for allowing outside observers to take and share photos or images that violate the privacy of minors. Simply for allowing outside observers to see the conditions the DHS Secretary says himself no child should be kept in.
Early this morning I arrived here at NASA’s Ames Research Center, one of the facilities the Biden administration is considering sheltering unaccompanied migrant children at to alleviate the humanitarian crisis of overcrowding in Border Patrol facilities.
Here’s what @RepRoKhanna has to say about the possibility of the NASA location being stood up in his district, and the crisis in Border Patrol facilities.
There’s a protest scheduled for here later today. But not all advocates are opposed to this facility and the need for more HHS capacity, given ORR influx shelters get kids out of Border Patrol custody. sfchronicle.com/local/article/…
NEW: Claiming the Biden admin is adopting an "open borders" immigration policy is ridiculous. I went to Mexico last week with @L_Toczylowski and @GuerlineMJozef, where we met @eeerox and saw a growing number of refugees and asylum seekers unable to enter the United States.
On the ground in Tijuana, we met many Haitians who have been waiting years to enter the United States. As @Haleaziz reports, many of those who *have* crossed out of desperation face deportation back to a country where they "may face harm." buzzfeednews.com/article/hameda…
I asked @SecMayorkas about the deportation of Haitians attempting to seek asylum last week. Here's what he told me.
Here’s my unedited 20 min @SecMayorkas interview. We cover:
- Domestic terrorism
- Migration increase and tent facilities
- Title 42 expulsions
- Deportation of Haitians
- Family separations
- Ending family and private ICE detention
- Replacing USBP chief nbcnews.com/video/nbc-news…
Here’s where you can watch the full interview on YouTube.
A day after Secretary Mayorkas told me in our interview that ICE detention is “not where a family belongs,” in court filing, ICE said it is effectively ending use of family detention. Read more, from @JuliaEAinsley. nbcnews.com/politics/immig…