Anchor Chris Wallace confronted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on “Fox News Sunday” over “why the Biden administration has refused to allow reporters to record what the conditions” are like at the southern border amid the surge of unaccompanied children and illegal aliens.
“The day after President Biden took office, he made this promise to the American people,” Wallace said, before playing a video clip of Biden saying, “Vice President Harris and I and are entire administration will always be honest and transparent with you about both the good news and the bad.”
“So why has the Biden administration refused to allow reporters to see for themselves and to record what the conditions are under which these minors are being Housed? Why in fact, did you, when you went to the border on Friday and led a congressional delegation– why did you refuse to allow reporters to see the conditions under which these minors are being held?” Chris Wallace pressed Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Mayorkas claimed: “Two things, Chris, if I may. Number one, let’s not forget we’re in the midst of a pandemic, and we are focused on our operations, executing on our operations in a crowed border patrolled facility, where hundreds of vulnerable migrant children are located, number one.”
“Number two: we’re working on providing footage so that the American public can see the border patrol’s stations,” he said, suggesting that the Biden administration would be in control of what the American people would be allowed to see.
“And I would encourage you and other reporters to see the facilities under the control of health and human services’ department where those children are sheltered and where they belong and where we are moving them as quickly as possible,” Mayorkas said. Continued Below
Chris Wallace pushed back at the department of homeland security secretary, suggesting that the Biden administration is making excuses.
“Secretary Mayorkas, respectfully sir, I think that there is a safe condition under which a pool reporter and a pool camera crew could go into some of these facilities, [be]cause this has been going on for two months now– and record the conditions under which these minors are being held. It seems to me to say it’s impossible to due because of COVID. Sounds like an excuse,” Wallace expressed.
Mayorkas deflected and alleged: “We’re working on providing access so that individuals will be able to see what the conditions in the border patrol stations are like. But first things first, we are in the midst of a pandemic and we’re focused on operations and executing on our plan. That’s our highest priority.” Video Below
Chris Wallace and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’s exchange in part:
Fox News’ Chris Wallace calls out DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for Biden’s media blackout on the border crisishttps://t.co/ddP6LzmV8l pic.twitter.com/QgGYlzYCJt
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 21, 2021
Full interview with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas:
(Related: Sen. Graham Demands DHS Sec. Mayorkas To ‘Change Course Or Change Jobs’ Amid Southern Border Crisis)
