The acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Sunday refuted criticism of “sweltering” detention facilities at the southern border, and blamed Congress for the crisis.
In an interview on CBS News’ “Face The Nation,” ICE director Mark Morgan declared “I would not describe [conditions] as they were described” in video of a facility toured by Vice President Mike Pence last week.
Though host Margaret Brennan pointed out video showed adult male detainees "hungry" and in "sweltering" heat so intense that "agents were wearing face masks" against the stench, Morgan pushed back.
“I would not consider it sweltering hot. I was there, alongside the vice president,” he said, adding, however, the conditions were “unacceptable.”
“Had Congress given the funding earlier than we asked, it would have helped alleviating some of the overcrowding,” he added, saying “Congress needs to act. They know it and they're failing to do so.”
“We've been pleading with them for a long time, you fix the settlement agreement, you fix the catch and release, and 85% of this crisis ends the next day,” he added. “That's what we need Congress to do on a bipartisan effort."
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