Vice President Kamala Harris to lead White House efforts to stem migration at the border
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
WASHINGTON - As the Biden administration continues to grapple with the growing number of unaccompanied migrant children at the border, Vice President Kamala Harris will be leading U.S. efforts to stem migration at the southern border, President Joe Biden announced Wednesday.
Harris under her new role will be working on establishing a partnership with Mexico, and the northern triangle of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to stem the flow of migrants to the U.S.
"There's no question that this is a challenging situation," Harris said in remarks ahead of a meeting with Biden, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday. "While we are clear that people should not come to the border now, we also understand that we will enforce the law, and that we also, because we can chew gum and walk at the same time, must address the root causes that cause people to make the trek."
An increased number of children are being accepted into the U.S., leading to overcrowding in short-term, jail-like facilities run by Customs and Border Protection. The Biden administration has struggled to move children quickly out of those facilities and into those run by the Department of Health and Human Services. By law, children are supposed to be moved out of CBP facilities within 72 hours.
As of Tuesday, Health and Human Services has 11,350 unaccompanied minors in its care.
Biden praised Harris Wednesday during the announcement, saying he "can think of nobody who is better qualified to do this."
"When she speaks, she speaks for me, doesn't have to check with me," Biden said of Harris. "She knows what she's doing, and I hope we can move this along."
During an interview with CBS This Morning on Wednesday, Harris said the administration is facing a "huge problem" at the border. Biden administration officials have avoided using the term "crisis" to describe what is happening at the border.
"It's a huge problem. I'm not going to pretend it's not. It's a huge problem," Harris said. "Are we looking at overcrowding at the border? Particularly of these kids? Yes. Should these kids be in the custody of HHS… instead of the patrol? Yes. Should we be processing these cases faster? Yes."
"This is, however, not going to be solved overnight," she added.
The Biden administration has faced criticism from Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill for its response to the situation at the border. The White House has also been criticized for a lack of media access to the facilities.
White House officials and members of Congress visited a holding facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas, on Wednesday. One network, NBC, accompanied the officials on their trip.
The trip comes one day after the Biden administration released photos and videos of Customs and Border Protection overflow facilities in Donna, Texas, and El Paso, Texas.
The Biden administration has been in contact with Mexico and Central American countries to discuss solutions for the increase of migrants at the border.
Earlier this week, Roberta Jacobson, special assistant to the president and coordinator for the southwest border, traveled to meet with Mexican government officials to discuss the situation at the border.
Juan Gonzalez, special assistant to the president and senior director for the Western Hemisphere, and Ricardo Zuniga, the State Department's northern triangle special envoy, traveled to Guatemala to meet with government officials and NGOs in the country to discuss how to address the "root causes of migration in the region and build a more hopeful future in the region."
Although the White House is struggling to handle the increase in migrants at the border, surges are typical and have happened in past years such as in 2019 and 2014.
Many migrants were left in limbo under the Trump administration due to several policies like Title 42, which is still in place, and the Migrant Protection Protocol, which forced migrants to wait in Mexico for their immigration hearings. Many of those migrants are now trying to cross into the U.S.
In addition, spring time is typically when the U.S. sees an increased number of migrants coming to the U.S.-Mexico border, as conditions are easier to travel in. Many migrants coming from Central American countries are faced with political and economic turmoil in their countries, as well as gang violence.
Last year, the region was hit by two hurricanes that displaced many in Central America. That has caused some to make the trek to the U.S.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vice President Kamala Harris to lead White House efforts to stem migration at the border
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Well, this will certainly be a disaster.
Libs, here is your chance to take in an illegal (or a hundred) you revere so much.
There will probably be millions more here than what are already.
It's all on you Kamala! Joe Biden is practicing for his press conference tomorrow. You have only hours to figure out how to tell people that the border is wide open with migrants being put into hotels and moved around the country. Don't cackle!
Great, put the person in charge who a few days ago said she couldn't comment on the border situation because she had no knowledge of it.
Just seems like a dodge so Biden can punt the subject in his press conference and stick to the bragging and generalized bromides which is as far as his abilities let him go.
And that is giving him too much credit.
My question is why didn't our government,,, Biden know and understand what changing their/his policies on immigration would do ?
Now we play catch up, fix the problem and evidently the real planning and work to actually prepare for the change is beginning.
Better late than never eh ?
Sad !
This all gets my DUuuu ...
Do you remember how cooperative the outgoing Administration was and how closely they worked with Biden?
No, I don't remember that either.
At least they didn't sic the FBI on them!
Do we know that for sure? Have you seen Bill Barr's notes?
Oh.. Poor Biden. Over his head and apparently surprised that we have an illegal immigration problem. What's next? Biden being baffled that we have a deficit because Trump didn't explain it to him?
How bad have things gotten when a guy who has been in Washington longer than most people have been alive has to fall back on "Trump didn't hold my hand so I don't what to do with a well known issue I campaigned on" card? If only he had experience....
You remember how cooperative the outgoing Obama Administration worked with Trump?
Nah, I didn't think you could. Lemme remind you - TWO IMPEACHMENTS - COUNTLESS hearings/non-responsive cooperation from the Dems - total falsification by Nadler and Shitzz and their cronies. Great cooperation, eh?
Yes, I remember Obama welcomed Trump to the WH on November 5.
Why the cheap shot?
Nothing to do with the Obama Admin or the transition teams cooperating with each other. Total fail.
World class compared to team Trump stonewalling Biden's team for two months, while Don golfed.
On the way out the door, Trump fired the Head Usher and dismissed the staff as a final FU to Biden.
Yep, 45 was a real class act.