The Biden administration announced Saturday it has directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the southern border to help care for unaccompanied child migrants arriving there.
Why it matters: The record number of child migrants crossing the border has been overwhelming the administration's stretched resources, per Axios' Jonathan Swan and Stef Kight.
Details: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had directed FEMA to "support a government-wide effort over the next 90 days to safely receive, shelter, and transfer unaccompanied children who make the dangerous journey to the U.S. southwest border."
What they're saying: "A Border Patrol facility is no place for a child," Mayorkas said in a statement.
- "We are working in partnership with HHS to address the needs of unaccompanied children, which is made only more difficult given the protocols and restrictions required to protect the public health and the health of the children themselves.
- "Our goal is to ensure that unaccompanied children are transferred to HHS as quickly as possible, consistent with legal requirements and in the best interest of the children."
Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
