WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a House Education and Labor Committee hearing titled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” Congresswoman Lisa McClain (R-MI) pressed Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra on the crisis at the border and HHS’ response to the thousands of unaccompanied alien children it is currently housing.
While Becerra said we have a broken immigration system, he would not commit to calling the crisis at the border a crisis. When McClain questioned Becerra on HHS diverting billions of dollars allocated for COVID response to the border crisis, Becerra defended the decision, and said HHS will continue diverting funds, regardless of how much it costs our country.
“Do you believe we have a crisis at the border,” asked Rep. McClain.
“We are certainly facing the challenges that come from having a broken immigration system and I have to deal with those in one aspect when it comes to the unaccompanied migrant children, but without a doubt for decades having a system, an immigration system, that’s broken it creates these kind of challenges,” said Sec. Becerra.
“You’ve diverted $2 billion of funding to deal with the crisis, $850 million from the stockpile money and $850 million of COVID testing money. So, can you see my confusion? If we don’t have a crisis at the border, why are you diverting funds from COVID and from our stockpile that would help us deal with the COVID crisis we have now or a future pandemic. So, I’m very confused if we have a non-border crisis why we’re diverting $2 billion,” asked McClain.
“Congresswoman, thank you for the question, and I’ve tried to explain this in the past. We have an obligation under the law to provide care for these unaccompanied minor children, regardless of what their ultimate outcome will be, if they have to be returned to their home country or not, while they’re here temporarily, our obligation is to make sure they are safe and healthy,” said Sec. Becerra.
To watch Rep. McClain’s questioning, go here.
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