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Republican senses Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley on Tuesday accused the Biden administration of ignoring a southern border crisis following revelations that customs and border protection closed motorway checkpoints so staff could be redirected to deal with a wave of migrants.
Senators urged Biden to act hours after Fox News reported that CBP closed a trio of checkpoints in Willcox, Arizona. The number of migrant children held in federal border facilities has tripled to 3,250 in the past two weeks, with many being held longer than the three days allowed by law.
CBP CLOSES HIGHWAY VERIFICATION POINTS AS A FIGHT AGAINST THE AGENCY TO MANAGE BORDER SURGE
“How much more will it take the Biden administration to admit there is a crisis at the border?” Cruz wrote on Twitter.
Hawley called the Biden administration for not taking action.
“The border is approaching a full-blown crisis, and Biden Admin’s response is… nothing,” Hawley said.
Officials have noted an increase in immigration to the southern border since Biden entered the White House in January. CBP will release figures this week that are expected to show around 100,000 apprehensions in February alone, down from 78,000 in January.
So far, the White House has resisted calls to label the situation on the border as a crisis.
“I don’t think we need to sit here and put new labels on what we’ve already conveyed is a challenge,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing .
Biden reversed a series of Trump-era immigration policies in the first weeks of his administration. Despite the changes, Psaki said the “majority” of people arriving at the border are turned away.
Earlier this week, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday asked staff members to volunteer to help CBP with what he described as an “overwhelming number” of migrants.
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CBP sources have warned that the decision to close checkpoints could weaken anti-trafficking efforts and allow smugglers easier access to the border.
The agency confirmed the move in a statement to Fox earlier Tuesday.
“The Tucson area has reoriented the workforce, based on operational needs in response to changing traffic, resulting in the closure of several tactical checkpoints in Southeast Arizona,” said CBP in a press release regarding checkpoint closures.
The agency said the checkpoints would reopen “depending on manpower and activity levels.”
Morgan Phillips of Fox News contributed to this report.
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