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For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, @CBPMarkMorgan will be testifying in front of Congress. I'll be following the hearing here in this thread.
Morgan is beginning the hearing by trying to blame the further spread of COVID on people south of the border. https://twitter.com/AbayaMiriam/status/1276146989231677442
Morgan is beginning the hearing by trying to blame the further spread of COVID on people south of the border. https://twitter.com/AbayaMiriam/status/1276146989231677442
Last year, we know that Stephen Miller tried to use public health laws to shut down the border to asylum seekers.
Despite @CBPMarkMorgan's claim that the new border restrictions are "not about immigration enforcement," they accomplish Miller's goal. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/us/coronavirus-immigration-stephen-miller-public-health.html
Despite @CBPMarkMorgan's claim that the new border restrictions are "not about immigration enforcement," they accomplish Miller's goal. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/us/coronavirus-immigration-stephen-miller-public-health.html
Just yesterday, a federal judge ruled, in a case involving a 16-year-old Honduran child, that @CBP's policy of "expelling" all unaccompanied children and refugees is likely in violation of the law. Expect Morgan to be grilled about this today. https://twitter.com/OmarJadwat/status/1275811793114411009
Chairman Ron Johnson begins the hearing by talking about "the assault on law enforcement" and discussing unemployment issues, which signals how much of this hearing is likely to go from the Republican side of things.
"How are you going to cope" with a potential surge of people arriving at the border if bad economic conditions south of the border continue, asks Chairman Johnson.
@CBPMarkMorgan says he anticipates another "surge of migration" going forward.
@CBPMarkMorgan says he anticipates another "surge of migration" going forward.
Morgan now asked to go through programs which "reduce the flow" at the border.
"From our perspective, they've been effective with the goal of reducing the flow of reducing illegal immigration"
He cites the Asylum Cooperative Agreement as one such program, plus MPP.
"From our perspective, they've been effective with the goal of reducing the flow of reducing illegal immigration"
He cites the Asylum Cooperative Agreement as one such program, plus MPP.
On the ACA—Morgan says it's "been effective" but it's currently suspended and at most it returned roughly 1,200 people. It was going to be ramped up, but hard to claim it had that much of an effect.
He also again praises MPP—ignoring as always the horrific humanitarian disaster.
He also again praises MPP—ignoring as always the horrific humanitarian disaster.
Morgan implies that if the CDC order is no longer used going forward, then @CBP is going back to using PACR/HARP, MPP, and the ACAs.
Here's our fact sheet on those programs. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/policies-affecting-asylum-seekers-border
Here's our fact sheet on those programs. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/policies-affecting-asylum-seekers-border
Morgan says of the Wall that it's not Trump's wall, it's what the Border Patrol officials asked for.
This is laughably false. The Border Patrol Union under Obama actually OPPOSED building new walls! https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/11/border-patrol-union-deleted-2012-webpage-opposing-walls-and-fences-1081250
This is laughably false. The Border Patrol Union under Obama actually OPPOSED building new walls! https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/11/border-patrol-union-deleted-2012-webpage-opposing-walls-and-fences-1081250
We now move to @SenGaryPeters, who asks about DHS's border restrictions. He notes that restrictions are affecting the ability of US hospitals to get Canadian doctors.
Morgan says CBP is "involved" in discussions and acknowledges the importance of cross-border economies.
Morgan says CBP is "involved" in discussions and acknowledges the importance of cross-border economies.
Morgan says of border restrictions at ports of entry that they "cannot be done just from a public health perspective" and they have to "be a balance."But he has absolutely REFUSED to do any "balance" that would protect refugees and unaccompanied children.
He may not know it, but @CBPMarkMorgan just gave up the game on the CDC border restrictions.
If he acknowledges that public health must be balanced when it comes to cross-border travel, but refuses to make any balance for refugees—it's really about immigration enforcement.
If he acknowledges that public health must be balanced when it comes to cross-border travel, but refuses to make any balance for refugees—it's really about immigration enforcement.
Breaking away from the hearing because Alito just did something awful. Will return in a bit if I can.
Anyway, back now. Some interesting developments while I was gone. Here's a good thread on the hearing. https://twitter.com/charanya_k/status/1276146722448838658
Here's another good thread that covered the hearing while I was gone reviewing Thuraissigiam. https://twitter.com/AbayaMiriam/status/1276146989231677442
Morgan says that when children are "expelled" from the border, they're "actually trying to reunite them with their families."
What a load of crock. We know for a fact that many of those children are FLEEING their abusive and dangerous families. Many are fleeing sexual violence.
What a load of crock. We know for a fact that many of those children are FLEEING their abusive and dangerous families. Many are fleeing sexual violence.
