FEMA ordered to help with influx of migrant children at U.S.-Mexico border

“A Border Patrol facility is no place for a child,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will help shelter and transfer a record number of child migrants showing up at the U.S.-Mexico border, the Homeland Security secretary said Saturday,

While the administration of President Joe Biden has avoided calling the situation a national emergency as former President Donald Trump declared in 2019 , it acknowledged a rising number of “encounters” at the border since April.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said FEMA would help children found at the border avoid being treated as detainees of Customs and Border Protection and move them more quickly into the care of the Department of Health and Human Services. Continue reading.

Senate confirms Biden’s DHS pick after GOP delay

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The Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Alejandro Mayorkas after a Republican effort stalled confirmation of President Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Mayorkas was one of the first of President Biden’s Cabinet nominees to gather significant pushback from Senate Republicans.

He was confirmed by a 56-43 vote. Continue reading.