Lawmakers Urge Biden Admin to Grant Media Access on Border Facilities
Lawmakers from both parties pushed the Biden administration to allow media in border facilities. The movement of the lawmakers is anchored on the transparency of the federal government to the Americans and disclose the real situation on the U.S.-Mexico Border.
The Biden administration has reiterated its promise to promote transparency and access to department operations even before President Joe Biden's inauguration. Homeland security officials are also part of this promise or vow, according to a CBS News report.
Biden admin on Media in Borders
The Biden administration was urged to allow journalists and reporters to cover the facilities that house a growing number of unaccompanied migrant children in the borders of America. The movement of the lawmakers followed events of the administration restricting information to Media personnel.
Independent noted that when Homeland Secretary Mayorkas traveled to the border with a group of senators from both parties, journalists were not allowed to join them, even though reporters are usually permitted to join when members of the cabinet have trips like the recent one.
"The president promised things would be different," said executive Dan Shelby from Radio Television Digital News Foundation. Shelby added that the change the president has promised is insight. However, it is not the way "he had hoped."
The appeal to make the information in the borders public also follows the uptick of the humanitarian crisis on the southwest border. The crisis is rooted in the issues that Central America is facing like gang violence, economic devastation, climate change, and even political persecution.
"This should be transparent," said Senator Rob Portman, adding that he is amazed about the amount of information regarding what is going on the border, which was known by his constituents. Rob Portman is a ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
"The Trump administration allowed journalists into juvenile migrant detention facilities," said Shelley, adding that the Biden administration must fix the problem immediately.
Senator Chris Murphy, chairman of Senate Appropriations and subcommittee on Homeland Security, noted that media coverage should be highlighted to the administration as something they have "to do better on." Murphy was also one of the Senators who visited the U.S. - Mexico border with Mayorkas.
Biden Administration on Media
As of Saturday morning, more than 5,000 unaccompanied minors are detained in a CBP tent in South Texas and other stations along the borders of Mexico. On the other hand, about 10,500 unaccompanied children are in emergency housing facilities and shelters that are authorized by the States.
In a Twitter post, Murphy noted that the administration is trying its best to uphold the rule of law with humanity. Murphy added that the Biden administration would have to clean what the former administration has left them, but their intentions are true.
"We are working on a plan to provide access so that people could see what is going on at Border Patrol stations," said Mayorkas assuring the people and media on providing information. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki noted that the media had not been allowed to the border facilities because of the COVID-19 restrictions. However, she emphasized that the Biden administration is committed to transparency.
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WATCH: Migrants flood U.S. border with hope of looser immigration policies under Biden - from CBC News: The National
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