Republican Reps. Brian Babin and Ronny Jackson of Texas gave photos to the Daily Caller showing an overcrowded border detention facility for migrant children in Donna, Texas.
The Biden administration allowed journalists and lawmakers inside the border detention facility for the first time Tuesday, revealing a severely overcrowded tent structure where more than 4,000 people were crammed in, the Associated Press reported.
The Texas congressmen noted that detention pods intended for 250 people were holding around 500, and children were kept in a large playpen with mats on the floor for sleeping.
“They were literally almost on top of each other,” Jackson told the Daily Caller.
migrants Rep. Brian Babin told the Daily Caller that he saw during his visit at the Donna facility pic.twitter.com/sCx8nRzklA
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) March 30, 2021
Footage of the border detention center released by other sources including Democratic Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, Project Veritas and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) also shows migrants crammed together in detention pods.
Daily Caller reporter Jorge Ventura was previously denied access to the border detention center in Donna. Its facilities have been stretched beyond capacity even as the Biden administration continues to downplay the overcrowding and ensuing crisis along the nation’s southern border.
President Joe Biden claimed the recent surge in border crossings was a normal pattern of illegal immigration during his first solo press conference last week. (RELATED: Ted Cruz Tells Biden That ‘The American People Deserve To See The Truth’ About Border Crisis)
“I’d like to think it’s happening because I’m a nice guy, but it’s not — because it’s what happens every year,” he told reporters.
More than 100,000 illegal immigrants, including around 19,000 people traveling as family units, were apprehended in February, acting CBP commissioner Troy Miller announced earlier in March. Border patrol agents also apprehended more than 9,000 unaccompanied minors last month.
Health and Human Services Department internal documents revealed in early March indicated the Biden administration had expected a surge in border crossings, especially unaccompanied minors, would overwhelm border detention facilities.