>>> NOW TO THE GROWING SURGE OF
MIGRANTS AT THE U.S./MEXICO
BORDER AND MOUNTING POLITICAL
PRESSURE THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION IS FACING TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
JOINING US LIVE FROM EL PASO,
TEXAS, MSNBC CORRESPONDENT
GARRETT HAAKE.
GARRETT?
>> HEY, MIKA, GOOD MORNING.
THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND
SECURITY SECOND THIS MORNING
BORDER PATROL IS ON PACE TO
ENCOUNTER MORE MIGRANTS AT THE
BORDER THIS YEAR THAN ANY TIME
IN THE LAST TWO DECADES, AND SO
MANY OF THEM ARE THESE
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS FLEEING
DESPERATE CONDITIONS IN THEIR
HOME COUNTRIES ARRIVING WEEK
AFTER WEEK HERE AT THE BORDER.
THIS MORNING THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION SCRAMBLING TO
FIND SHELTER FOR MORE MIGRANT
CHILDREN ARRIVING BY THE DAY,
OPENING THIS FACILITY IN
MIDLAND, TEXAS AND EYEING LARGER
SPACES LIKE THE DALLAS
CONVENTION CENTER AND EVEN A
NASA RESEARCH FACILITY IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO HANDLE
THE INFLUX.
THE BORDER PATROL DETAINING A
RECORD 3,200 UNACCOMPANIED
CHILDREN IN JAIL-LIKE FACILITIES
NOT DESIGNED FOR KIDS.
>> IT’S A COMPLICATED PROBLEM,
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
WE’RE SENDING THE MESSAGE
CLEARLY IN THE REGION, NOW 0 IS
NOT THE TIME TO COME.
>> Reporter: THEY SAY THE POLICY
IS MUDDLED AND SHOULD BE
REVERSED.
>> THE CRISIS IS CREATED BY THE
POLICIES OF THIS NEW
ADMINISTRATION.
THERE’S NO OTHER WAY TO CLAIM IT
THAN A BIDEN BORDER CRISIS.
>> Reporter: SINCE TAKING
OFFICE, PRESIDENT BIDEN ENDED A
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION POLICY
REQUIRING WOULD-BE REFUGEES TO
REMAIN IN MEXICO DURING THEIR
ASYLUM APPLICATION PROCESS.
WHILE MOST ARE STILL BARRED,
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ARE
ADMITTED.
MOVING THEM BETWEEN CROWDED
BORDER PATROL STATIONS A GROWING
CHALLENGE.
THEY
MR. BIDEN CRITICIZED THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION FOR HOLDING THE
CHILDREN IN HARSH FACILITIES.
>> THOSE CHILDREN ARE ALONE.
NOWHERE TO GO.
IT’S CRIMINAL.
>> Reporter: IN MAY OF THAT YEAR
THE BORDER PATROL APPREHENDED
144,000 IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING
11,000 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS.
LAST MONTH THE BORDER PATROL
APPREHENDED A LITTLE OVER
100,000 IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING
NEARLY 9,300 MINORS.
AS WINTER TURNS TO SPRING, MORE
MY AND GRAZIE ARE EXPECTED TO
ARRIVE IN THE PASSING WEEK, WITH
KAUG DIVIDE
WASHINGTON DIVIDED HOW TO HANDLE
THEM.
>> WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO THOSE
CHILDREN MAKING THE TRIP?
>> STOP THEM BEFORE THEY GET
HERE.
>> THE ADMINISTRATION ARGUES
THEY INHERITED A TOTALLY BROKEN
SYSTEM AND THEY’RE TRYING TO PUT
THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER BUT
THESE SPRING SURGES ARE SOMEWHAT
PREDICTABLE.
WE KNOW MORE AND MORE MIGRANTS
WILL COME AND, WILLIE, IT’S SORT
OF LIKE PUTTING THE PLANE
TOGETHER WHILE YOU’RE ALREADY IN
THE AIR.
>> GARRETT, YOU WONDER HOW LONG
THIS ADMINISTRATION CAN GET
ALONG WITH BLAMING THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION FOR THIS AS WE’RE
60 DAYS INTO IT.
THIS IS A SIGNAL, AS SENATOR
MANCHIN SAID THE OTHER DAY,
LOOK, WHATEVER THE MESSAGE
DURING THE CAMPAIGN WAS, IT SURE
WAS INTERPRETED THE WRONG WAY.
THIS IS A CRISIS.
IT IS A CRISIS, SAYING THE
CAMPAIGN MESSAGING FROM THE
BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS IMMIGRANTS
COULD COME TO THE BORDER,
MIGRANTS COULD COME AND SEEK
REFUGE HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
SO WHAT DOES THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION DO FROM HERE?
>> THE ADMINISTRATION AND
CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS,
FRANKLY, RAN ON A MORE HUMANE
IMMIGRATION POLICY AND THAT
MEANS THEY’RE GOING TO LET THESE
ACCOMPANIED MINORS INTO THE
COUNTRY WHILE THEY APPLY FOR
ASYLUM BUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO
NOW IS RAPIDLY SCALE UP WHERE
THEY’RE GOING TO HOUSE THEM.
THAT’S WHY THEY’RE LOOKING AT
THE CONVENTION CENTER IN DALLAS,
THIS NASA FACILITY IN THE BAY
AREA IN CALIFORNIA.
THEY HAVE TO FIND A FACE AND
HUMANE WAY TO SHELTER PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY OR THE PROBLEM ONLY
GETS WORSE, FRANKLY.
MIKA?
>> MSNBC’S GARRETT HAAKE LIVE IN
EL PASO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I’VE GOT TO SAY JOHN MANCHIN
IS RIGHT ABOUT THE PERMISSIVE
MESSAGE THAT HAS BEEN SENT.
THIS IS A CRISIS AND THEY NEED
TO ALTER THAT MESSAGE.
IF YOU LOOK BACK TO WHAT
HAPPENED IN JIMMY CARTER IN