Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday sparred with Fox News host Chris Wallace about the Biden administration restricting media access to the federal facilities where thousands of migrant children are being held after crossing the border.
Noting President Biden’s vow to maintain a transparent White House, the “Fox News Sunday” host asked why reporters do not have access to the Customs and Border Patrol housing facilities, including during Mayorkas’ visit to the border on Friday.
The secretary began his answer by saying that “we’re in the midst of a pandemic.”
“We are focused on our operations, executing our operations, in a crowded border patrol facility where hundreds of vulnerable migrant children are located,” Mayorkas said.
“We’re working on providing footage so that the American public can see the border patrol stations,” he continued.
Mayorkas has said the administration is “working on providing access.” Mark Makela/Getty ImagesBut Wallace said that sounds like “an excuse” and pointed out that “there is a safe condition” in which a pool reporter and camera crew could enter one of the facilities and record the children, even in a coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re working on providing access,” Mayorkas responded.
“And certainly reporters can see the Department of Health and Human Services facilities in which children are sheltered for a longer period of time,” he added.
