White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says the Biden administration has no plans to send migrant children back across the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Children presenting at our border who are fleeing violence, who are fleeing prosecution, who are fleeing terrible situations, is not a crisis. We feel that it is our responsibility to humanely approach this circumstance and make sure they are treated with… treated and put in conditions that are safe,” Psaki said during Monday’s press briefing.
Psaki appeared to shift gears to discuss photos provided to Axios by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) showing the inside of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Texas.
“These photos show what we’ve long been saying which is that these border patrol facilities are not places made for children. They are not places that we want children to be staying for an extended period of time. Our alternative is to send children back on this treacherous journey. That is not, in our view, the right choice to make.”
Watch part of Psaki’s press briefing below:
WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki says sending migrant children back across the border is “not the right choice to make.”
— The Recount (@therecount) March 22, 2021
She says: “Children presenting at our border who are fleeing violence … is not a crisis.” pic.twitter.com/wPIWd5zMvt
During one of the press briefings last week, Psaki called the situation at the southern border a “crisis” before walking it back after reporters pressed her on whether her comments acted as a change in the Biden administration’s view of the situation, as IJR reported.
“Challenges on the border,” she clarified.
Psaki said the use of the word “crisis” did not mean the administration’s view has changed.
Roberta Jacobson, the White House’s southern border coordinator, told Reuters in an interview the Biden administration will be delivering a “more aggressive” message to migrants.
“We’re going to be more aggressive, more agile about getting our message out, we’re going to try and combat the smugglers’ messages and make sure that people understand the truth,” Jacobson said.
She also stressed, “The way to come to the United States is through legal pathways.”
The administration said on Thursday the government has more than 14,000 migrant children in its custody.
