ABC Pummels Psaki for Dodging on Immigration, But Claims Crisis Is Trump’s Fault

ABC not only circled back to Biden’s growing border crisis on Wednesday’s Good Morning America but also shockingly called out the administration for “refusing” to be transparent.

GMA co-anchor Michael Strahan led the report by noting the number of migrant children detained at the border had hit a “record high” under the Biden administration and they were “struggling to answer basic questions about the number of migrants at the border.” 

But chief White House correspondent Cecilia Vega immediately defended the Biden administration as a victim of the previous Republican administration’s failings:

So the White House says they inherited a completely gutted immigration system from the Trump administration and they are trying to do everything they can to figure out a way to safely and humanely house these children and the chief of staff is now calling this one of the most vexing problems this administration faces. 

Hmm, where have we heard this before?

Yet, Vega also slammed the Biden administration for refusing to allow journalists into the detention facilities, despite a record number of children “overwhelming” the government facilities. She also called out White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki for “refusing” to answer questions about the crisis:

VEGA: Yet despite promising transparency, officials have not allowed journalists in to see the conditions themselves. The press secretary pressed on the situation more than a dozen times in Tuesday’s briefing refusing to confirm even those latest figures on children crossing the border. 

JEN PSAKI: I’m not going to confirm numbers from here. 

VEGA: Why won’t you confirm that number? That’s a very important number. 

PSAKI:  Those numbers are tracked by the Department of Homeland Security so I’m suggesting you talk to them. 

Vega’s report noted Republican criticism of Biden’s border policies, but she expressed sympathy for the new administration’s failure to control the situation:

Now, there is a charge that we are continually hearing from Republicans. They say that overturning Trump’s hard line immigration policy signals to migrants that it makes it easier right now to cross the border under the Biden administration. The White House has repeatedly said, guys, that the message is ‘do not come right now,’ but it seems given these numbers that we are seeing that message is not quite getting through, guys. 

Co-anchor George Stephanopoulos also felt sorry for the Biden administration, opining to end the segment: “This has been such a perplexing dilemma.”

Vega’s report did not hold President Biden accountable for his promise to defeat the coronavirus pandemic, but also allowing record numbers of COVID-positive illegal immigrants to come into the country.

Biden’s border crisis story was ignored by CBS This Morning on Wednesday. NBC devoted 37 seconds to the Biden admin still housing migrant families in detention centers despite a court order not to do so. NBC also did a full report on the record immigration influx on their Tuesday evening newscast.

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Read the ABC transcript below:

Good Morning America
03/10/2021
7:14 a.m. Eastern

MICHAEL STRAHAN: Also out of Washington, the growing crisis for the Biden administration as they struggle to answer basic questions about the number of migrants at the border. Sources confirming to ABC news that the numbering of children detained at the border has hit a record high. Our Chief White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega has the very latest. Good morning, Cecilia. 

CECILIA VEGA: Hi, Michael. Good morning to you. So the white house says they inherited a completely gutted immigration system from the Trump administration and they are trying to do everything they can to figure out a way to safely and humanely house these children and the chief of staff is now calling this one of the most vexing problems this administration faces. 

This morning, the record surge in unaccompanied migrant children is overwhelming government facilities leaving almost all the beds taken. But the White House continues to say it is not a crisis. 

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JEN PSAKI: I don’t think we need to sit here and put new labels on what we have already conveyed as challenging. 

VEGA: Through a report obtained through anonymous sources ABC news learned the number of children crossing the border without parents or guardians has soared to nearly 3500 in the last two weeks alone. Including nearly 200 kids under the age of 12.

So many flooding the system, some 1500 have been held beyond the three days legally allowed. Children now being housed in facilities meant for adults. The Biden administration conceding they need more space. Yet despite promising transparency, officials have not allowed journalists in to see the conditions themselves. The press secretary pressed on the situation more than a dozen times in Tuesday’s briefing refusing to confirm even those latest figures on children crossing the border. 

PSAKI: I’m not going to confirm numbers from here. 

VEGA: Why won’t you confirm that number? That’s a very important number. 

PSAKI:  Those numbers are tracked by the Department of Homeland Security so I’m suggesting you talk to them. 

VEGA: And that is — that was what happened here in the briefing room yesterday. Now, there is a charge that we are continually hearing from Republicans. They say that overturning 

Trump’s hard line immigration policy signals to migrants that it makes it easier right now to cross the border under the Biden administration. The White House has repeatedly said, guys, that the message is ‘do not come right now,’ but it seems given these numbers that we are seeing that message is not quite getting through, guys. 

STEPHANOPOULOS: This has been such a perplexing dilemma. Ok Cecilia, thanks very much.