Top Stories

Congress demands answers about influx of unaccompanied children entering the U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amid growing concerns over the surge in unaccompanied children crossing the U.S. Mexico border, the head of Homeland Security is defending the Biden administration’s policies.

Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before Congress on Wednesday.

“The border is secure and the border is not open,” he said.

Mayorkas says they are sending back single adults and families illegally crossing at the southwest border

, but the DHS is not sending back unaccompanied children. Instead, he said those kids have a chance to apply for humanitarian relief.

From October 2020 to January 2021, more than 100 unaccompanied kids were released to caregivers in Pennsylvania.

“The previous administration was expelling these unaccompanied children. Some who are girls under the age of 12, for example, back to Mexico. We ended that practice,” he said.

Republican lawmakers fired back, blaming the Biden administration for the thousands of kids in border patrol custody at the border.

“I don’t believe you have a plan to deal with it,” said Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.)

Republicans blasted President Biden for reversing immigration policies put in place during the Trump administration.

“What was this administration and the president thinking?” said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas).

“Sometimes the tools of deterrence defy values and principles for which we all stand. And one of those tools of deterrence that the Trump administration employed was deplorable and absolutely unacceptable,” said Mayorkas.

According to Mayorkas, the U.S. is on track to see the highest number of migrants at the southern border in the last 20 years.