When Is “a Dire Circumstance” NOT a Crisis?

President Biden accidentally used the word “crisis” finally when describing the reality of the conditions at the Southern border. This was a complete slip-up and didn’t align with the political narrative the Left wants the American people to believe. Which explains why White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was quick to cover up the President’s slip-up.

When a reporter asked about the President’s intention behind calling the border a crisis, President Biden’s Press Secretary quickly tried to backpedal:

"Well, let me first say that we have made some progress in moving children from out of Border Patrol facilities into shelters. Nearly 1,000 unaccompanied minors have been transferred out of CBP facilities and into the care of Health and Human services just this weekend. We still have a lot of work to do, but that is a step forward in our view. The President does not feel children coming to our border seeking refuge from violence, economic hardships and other dire circumstances is a crisis. He does feel the crisis in Central America, the dire circumstances that many are fleeing from, that is a situation we need to spend our time and effort on, and we need to address it if we are to prevent more of an influx of migrants from coming in years to come."

So, what exactly is the Left trying to accomplish by denying the reality of what is going on at the border? ACLJ Senior Counsel for Global Affairs Mike Pompeo has experience in immigration policy as former Secretary of State under the Trump Administration. His thoughts were:

"I can’t figure out the word game either…call it what everyone may. What we know is there is a real risk to American security if we don’t have sovereignty at our Southern border. They have given that up by allowing these people to travel into our country who aren’t here lawfully and then releasing them inside the country. It’s a humanitarian calamity as well. I won’t use the word crisis, instead, humanitarian calamity. Young kids and women are being trafficked across our border and coyotes and cartels are then preying on them. These are things that are bad. I don’t know why they have shied away from using that word. I’m happy to use whatever word they would like. What I would really like to see are actions to protect American sovereignty and stop this trafficking across our border."

Mike Pompeo is exactly right. For these children, this is a humanitarian nightmare. But the Left has completely politicized the word “crisis.” They are not giving it to you straight. Whatever they want to call it, they need to take action. Just yesterday the people who were caught coming across the border consisted of a man convicted of child abuse, a rape suspect, a four-time felon, an unaccompanied 15-year-old pregnant migrant child, and a woman trying to sneak in 21 pounds of heroin and cocaine stashed in her car.

Vice President Kamala Harris was tasked to manage the crisis at the border and has yet to even visit the border. Her response, when asked about her focus with this task, was to establish a virtual trade mission within the Commerce Department. This will not magically eliminate the entire crisis at the border.

In a real effort to solve the humanitarian crisis at the border, Representatives Jim Jordan, John Katco, and James Comer, three ranking members of the House Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Oversight committee have sent a letter to request a meeting with Vice President Harris to discuss their ideas to solve this issue. Whether VP Harris will agree to this meeting is up in the air. In the real world, you would want input so you could craft a solution to put a plan in place with bipartisan buyin. But in D.C., if the solution doesn’t align with the political narrative, it won’t happen.

Here is the reality: Children are being used as pawns at the border. This is heartbreaking and something we should all have a real problem with. It is only going to get worse. We need real leadership to advocate for these children at the border on both sides of the aisle. That is why the ACLJ exists to be the voice for these children and take it beyond politics to fight back.

Today’s full Sekulow broadcast is complete with even more analysis of the conditions at the border and the inaction under the Biden Administration as well as more insight from ACLJ Senior Counsel for Global Affairs Mike Pompeo on the climate change deal with China.