Sunday shows – Biden administration grapples with border surge

by The Hill staff - 03/21/21 11:35 AM ET

The Biden administration’s response to the surge of migrants at the southern border dominated the Sunday morning political talk shows, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appearing on multiple programs.

Guests also discussed the deadly shootings at three Atlanta-area massage parlors and an upswing in violence against Asian Americans.

Read The Hill’s complete coverage below.

DHS secretary says border is closed: ‘The message is quite clear, do not come’

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday urged migrants not to travel to the United States, as the Biden administration struggles with a surge of incomers, especially unaccompanied minors, at the southern border.

“The message is quite clear, do not come. The border is closed, the border is secure,” Mayorkas told host Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week.”

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DHS secretary blames Trump administration for current border crisis

By JOSEPH CHOI

“We are rebuilding the orderly systems that the Trump administration tore down to avoid the need for these children to actually take the perilous journey,” Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.

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DHS secretary clashes with Fox host over press access at border facilities

By JOHN BOWDEN

President Biden’s secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, clashed Fox News host Chris Wallace on Sunday over press access to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) facilities where migrant children are housed before being transferred to Health and Human Services (HHS) housing.

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GOP representative predicts 1 million migrants at the border by summertime

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

“It’s gonna get worse. It’s gonna get a lot worse springtime, summer, more and more come over,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) told host Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week.” “I predict a million people trying to get into this country by the summertime.”

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Duckworth: Atlanta shootings look ‘racially motivated’

By JOSEPH CHOI

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) on Sunday said that she thought the deadly shootings in Atlanta last week that left eight people dead, including six Asian American women, appear to be “racially motivated.”

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Chu on Atlanta shootings: ‘This is an anti-Asian hate crime’

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

“In my mind, and in the minds of many, this is an anti-Asian hate crime,” Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) told host Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week.”

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Rep. Michelle Steele says she’s been called ‘Chairman Mao’

By JOSEPH CHOI

Rep. Michelle Steele (R-Calif.), one of the first three Korean American members of Congress, said in an interview that aired on Sunday that she has faced racist attacks, including being called “Chairman Mao.”

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Warnock says ‘reasonable gun reform’ a necessary response to Atlanta shootings

By JOHN BOWDEN

“We need reasonable gun reform in our country,” Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) said without specifying what measures he would like to see passed. “This, this shooter was able to kill all of these folks the same day he purchased a firearm.”

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GOP governor: Vaccine hesitancy among Trump voters is ‘natural resistance to government’

By JOSEPH CHOI

“I think it’s a natural resistance to government and skepticism of it. But you look at the breadth of support here in Arkansas for President Trump, and you have rural voters, you have minority voters and their hesitancy is worrisome, not just here but all across the country,” Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said.

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Cotton: Democrats’ infrastructure bill will be focused on higher taxes, ‘Green New Deal’

By JOHN BOWDEN

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in an interview on Sunday threw cold water on the likelihood of Democrats picking up his support for an upcoming infrastructure push.

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DHS chief calls domestic extremism ‘greatest’ terror threat US faces

By JOHN BOWDEN

“We are very focused on domestic violent extremism. It is the greatest threat, terrorist-related threat, that we face in our homeland. We are very focused on it,” Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.

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