Biden "Limits" Sharing of Info About Migrant Surge, Officials Claim
The United States is seeing an increase of migrants crossing the border in 20 years, with a noted increase in apprehension of illegal crossings. Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott scrutinized the Biden administration last week for what he called a growing crisis at the border due to a migrant surge.
The Biden administration is allegedly restricting Border Patrol agents on the extent of information they can share with the media as migrant surge prevails at the border. The restriction extends to sector chiefs, according to four current and two former Customs and Border Protection officials.
Officials say the restrictions are seen as an unofficial "gag order," which they often refer to that way among colleagues, according to an NBC News report.
Meanwhile, border officials working under The Biden administration said that U.S. President Joe Biden and his surrogates are wrong not to call the migrant surge a border crisis.
"We do not have the resources to stop the cartels from bringing in illegal aliens, from bringing in drugs, therefore we are in fact in a crisis," Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, was quoted in a Fox News report.
Judd also noted that a week ago they would not have called the situation a crisis, but currently, it meets the meaning.
A senior Border Patrol official who spoke on anonymity agreed to Judd's sentiments.
The official said that the President understands it is a crisis, "which is why he told migrants no to come over to the United States."
During an interview in Pennsylvania, Biden sent a message to the migrants, saying to not come to the U.S. He added that migrants should not leave their town or city or community.
READ MORE: Trump Blames Biden for the Border Mess, Says It Will 'Destroy Our Country'
Media Restrictions
Media requests wanting to accompany agents at the southern area of the border were denied, as per the new order.
Part of the order was to send all information requests to the press office in Washington for approval. This includes those that come from local media.
Multiple news organizations have also been denied to have access to videos or photos from inside overcrowded border processing facilities of migrant children.
The Domestic Homeland Security released a photo late Tuesday showing a mother and child while in a health screening. However, there were no wide shots to show conditions or sleeping arrangements inside the facility.
Officials said the new instruction does not come down with a memo, but was passed down verbally.
Migrant Surge
Aside from Border Patrol officials, Abbott blamed Biden for changing policies at the U.S.-Mexico border.
He added that there is a crisis on the Texas border as of the moment, seeing migrants surge with a number of people coming across the border, according to an Aljazeera report.
Abbott blamed Biden for the current crisis for his open border policies.
"It invites illegal immigration and is creating a humanitarian crisis in Texas right now that will grow increasingly worse by the day," Abbott was quoted in a report.
Biden has been reversing several of former President Donald Trump's policies on his first months in office, which includes suspending the "Remain in Mexico" program and scraping the border wall construction.
READ NEXT: Biden Says U.S. in Talks With Other Countries for COVID Vaccine Supply
WATCH: Biden administration scrambles to respond to surge of migrant children at the U.S. border - from PBS NewsHour
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