https://twitter.com/Quicktake/status/1440342212965900289

President Biden is vowing to get the situation at the southern border “under control,” as Del Rio, Texas, has seen as many as 15,000 migrants cross the Rio Grande illegally in the past week. 

On Tuesday, following his address at the UN General Assembly, Biden was asked for his reaction to images that showed Border Patrol agents using their horses to keep Haitian migrants from crossing into the US. 

“Mr. President, what’s your reaction to the images coming from the southern border,” a reporter asked

“Get it under control,” Biden said.

The president was pressed further, and was asked to clarify whether the administration has it under control or will get it under control. 

“We will get it under control,” he emphasized. 

Vice President Kamala Harris was also pressed on the photos Tuesday, which she called “horrible,” adding that “as a member of the Western Hemisphere, we’ve got to support” Haitians’ “very basic needs.”

“I fully support what is happening right now, which is a thorough investigation into exactly what is going on there,” Harris told reporters. “But human beings should never be treated that way. And I’m deeply troubled about it. And I’ll also be talking to Secretary Mayorkas about it today.”

“We really have to do a lot more to recognize that as a member of the Western Hemisphere, we’ve got to support some very basic needs that the people of Haiti have to get back up and to and to do what-what we want to do be them from Haiti or in the countries in Central America,” she added. “People want to stay home, they don’t want to leave home, but they leave when they cannot satisfy their basic needs.”

Last week, more than 12,000 illegal migrants — most of them Haitians — camped underneath the Del Rio International Bridge after crossing into Texas from Mexico. Lack of security measures along the river and low Border Patrol manpower led to hundreds crossing back and forth over the river, sparking security concerns among local and state officials. 

This year, the US has seen record numbers of migrants crossing the border, with officials having stopped at least 1,323,500 illegal immigrants attempting to cross from Mexico into the US. 

Officials confirmed on Sept. 15 that they encountered 208,887 migrants in August, marking the first time that more than 200,000 illegal immigrant encounters have been recorded in consecutive months since February and March 2000 (211,328 and 220,063, respectively).

Over the weekend, officials moved over 3,000 migrants from the camp under the Del Rio bridge to planes or detention centers. The Department of Homeland Security is looking to have one to three deportation flights a day to help mitigate the influx of migrants. 

On Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned migrants that the southern US border is “not open,” and they will be returned home if they cross over illegally.

“If you come to the United States illegally, you will be returned. Your journey will not succeed and you will be endangering your life and your family’s lives. This administration is committed to developing safe, orderly and humane pathways for migration. This is not the way to do it,” he said while visiting Del Rio, Texas.

Despite the warning, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott slammed the administration’s efforts to control the situation at the border on Tuesday, saying they have been promoting open border policies. 

“The Biden administration is doing nothing to secure our border, because the administration has been promoting and allowing open border policies. It has been the state of Texas that had to step up and address this challenge, and work with the local mayor, the local county judge and the local sheriff to accomplish several things,” he said. 

“These border patrol officers are overwhelmed with the amount of work that they are required to do, and they’re suffering the consequences of an administration that is not providing them either – either the personnel or the resources they need.”

Over the weekend  the Department of Homeland Security announced that 400 Border Patrol agents would be sent to Del Rio to help restore order. 

“If additional staff is needed, more will be sent,” DHS said. “The Del Rio Port of Entry has temporarily closed, and traffic is being re-routed from Del Rio to Eagle Pass to more effectively manage resources and ensure uninterrupted flow of trade and travel.”