Meet the Press - April 30, 2023

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Good morning, Chuck.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Chuck, it's a horrific crime. And I can assure you and the American people that law enforcement

will deliver accountability. The case is an active one under investigation so I really can't comment further.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

So, Chuck, I won't comment on it because it is an active case. The tragedy that occurred is, you described it correctly, just absolutely horrific. Our hearts go to the victims, the victims' families, those children. And we'll deliver accountability.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

So we are monitoring the situation very carefully. But the FBI is the lead federal investigative agency. And, of course, working with the locals there.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

A few things, Chuck. First of all, this is a really tough challenge and has been, as we all recognize, for years and years. We are seeing a level of migration not just at our southern border, but throughout the hemisphere, that is unprecedented. It is, I think, the greatest migration in our hemisphere since World War II. The president on day one delivered a solution. He delivered immigration reform legislation that we had hoped Congress would act on swiftly. They haven't. Within the constraints of a broken immigration system, we are doing so much. Our approach is to build lawful pathways, cut out the ruthless smugglers, deliver lawful pathways so people can access humanitarian relief without having to take the dangerous journey from their home countries. And at the same time, if they arrive at our southern border in between ports of entry, we will deliver consequences.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

We follow the law. And the law --

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

-- provides that we take custody of that child, and we have 72 hours within which to transfer that child, that unaccompanied child, to the Department of Health and Human Services. Then it is for the Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, to identify a relative, a sponsor in the United States to whom they can transfer care of that child.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Chuck, we have to take a look at the humanitarian issue here. These are parents that are suffering such desperation, whether it's by reason of an authoritarian regime, tremendous violence, acute poverty, persecution, that they are so desperate that they send their children to the southern border alone. We have, the law provides, for humanitarian relief for these children. And we enforce that law.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

So we will exercise our enforcement authorities in a traditional immigration context. Remember, Title 42 is a public health authority, not an immigration authority that was delivered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When that ends on May 11th, we will use our immigration authorities under Title 8 of the United States code. That family will be placed in immigration enforcement proceedings, removal proceedings. They will make a claim -- if they make a claim for relief, we will adjudicate that claim for relief swiftly. If they --

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

So it could be days or weeks. It is not going to be months and months.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

So, we are -- what we have done now is we are going to be able to exercise our immigration enforcement authorities. We've been precluded from doing so by a court. We sought to end Title 42 long ago.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Title 42 does not deliver an immigration consequence. Title 8 of the United States code does. If an individual is removed under Title 8, they will encounter an at least five-year bar on readmission to the United States.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

So we're going to focus on recent border crossers. But the point, the fundamental point, is we have more than two million cases in an immigration backlog that has been building year over year over year. What a powerful example of a completely broken immigration system. We have got to fix it. We need legislative reform.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

So, Chuck, we need resources for it all.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

But remember, the resources will enable us to move more quickly, more efficiently within a broken immigration system. So I just want to be clear that we are working within significant constraints. We need people; we need technology; we need facilities; we need transportation resources -- all of the elements of addressing the needs of a large population of people arriving irregularly at our southern border.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

It is, in the context in which we are working, it is maximizing the resources that we have available to us to deliver the most effective results. And something that is overlooked that I speak about frequently is the fact that our apprehension rates at our southern border are consistent with the apprehension rates in the prior administration. And why is that? It is because of the extraordinary, and extraordinarily heroic work, of our United States Border Patrol.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

But the --

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

-- challenge is enormous.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Chuck, I'm incredibly proud to work with the United States Border Patrol. I have supported them vigorously since my first day in office. I will continue to do so, a tremendous source of pride. And I will tell you this --

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Chuck, I'm focused on mission. That's what I'm focused on. I look at their needs. I try to fulfill their needs. We go to Congress and seek support. You know, this is the first administration since 2011 that has plussed up the Border Patrol with more agents. Our request of Congress for fiscal year 2024 is another 350 Border Patrol agents. That hasn't happened for over 12 years.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Chuck, it's a matter of supply and it's a matter of demand. No different than the scourge of drugs that has afflicted this country for decades. But I will tell you something, because I was a federal prosecutor for 12 years. I prosecuted cocaine trafficking cases, methamphetamine, black tar heroin, heroin. We haven't seen anything like fentanyl -- its toxicity. It is -- these cartels are peddling in death and destruction. But we have to stop the flow of fentanyl and we also have to address the demand.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

So a couple things, number one, we are taking it to the cartels and with unprecedented strength and focus. And there's a misperception that Mexico is not a good partner in our fight against --

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

They are an ally. And we have a very close partnership with them. We don't --

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

That is a misconception. I will tell you that we have transnational criminal investigative units. Our Homeland Security investigation's personnel are in Mexico --

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Chuck, I can't speak to his public statements. I can speak to what happens on the ground operationally. And we work very closely with our Mexican partners. You know, that fentanyl though, you know, the precursor chemicals, the equipment used to manufacture it, much of it originates in China. And we've got to stop that flow.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

So, of course, our relationship with, with China is not very positive. We are working with our Mexican authorities. We are working with our partners internationally to put pressure on China to interdict the flow, to identify the transport companies, to cut off the finances, to hold individuals and companies accountable.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Oh, Chuck, 100%. Incredibly sharp, incredibly probing, incredible command of the details, probing on the details, asking tough questions. Absolutely. I'm incredibly proud to serve in his administration. I am incredibly proud of the work that we have done across the board --

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

100%.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Thank you, Chuck. Look forward to it.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source