More than 15,000 migrant children are currently detained on the US southern border. Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mayorkas has repeatedly stated that “the border is closed” and blames the Trump administration for the current situation. Christina Ruffini has more.

Video transcript

– – The top US immigration officer said today that authorities are expelling the majority of migrants crossing the southern border. But unaccompanied children are not expelled. The surge in migration is a growing political crisis for the Biden government. We’re getting more from Christina Ruffini at CBS at the White House now. Christina, good evening.

CHRISTINA RUFFINI: Good evening. The White House has tried to avoid calling what is happening on the border a crisis. But it’s a big problem when a series of encounters are on track to become the biggest in 20 years.

Hundreds of unaccompanied migrant children turn up on the southern border every day. But President Biden says he will not send her back.

JOE BIDEN: What do you do with an unaccompanied child who reaches the limit? Are you repeating what Trump did? We do not do that.

CHRISTINA RUFFINI: His government’s compassionate approach to immigration policy has been mistaken for forbearance. And a record 15,000 migrant children are currently in US custody.

ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS: The message is very clear, don’t come. The border is closed.

The border is closed.

The border is closed.

CHRISTINA RUFFINI: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has appeared on several Sunday exhibitions defending the government’s border policies by blaming the rocky transition period and President Trump’s actions.

ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS: President Trump has dismantled the orderly, humane and efficient way children can make claims under US law in their home countries.

CHRISTINA RUFFINI: But Republicans say the border is now in a crisis caused by the dismantling of those tough policies.

TOM COTTON: The Biden administration keeps saying that Trump somehow dismantled the immigration system. This is wrong

CHRISTINA RUFFINI: When he returned to the White House from Camp David tonight, President Biden was asked why he thought the news did not get through. He said the government needs to do more, but this could be a case where actions speak louder than words, because as long as these unaccompanied minors are allowed to stay in the country, more of them could try to make the journey north. Jericka.

– – Christina Ruffini in the White House.