Biden administration officials will travel to the southern border in the coming days to assess the situation as a surge in migrants seeking to enter the country stretches government resources.
“President Biden has asked senior members of his team to travel to the border region in order to provide a full briefing to him on the government response to the influx of unaccompanied minors and an assessment of additional steps that can be taken to ensure the safety and care of these children,” White House spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement.
The White House would not say specifically who would be making the trip or when it will take place, citing security concerns. But officials will provide a summary of the visit once it concludes, Patel said.
The trip to the border comes as Biden officials try to get a handle on the rising number of migrants coming across the border. Border agents have apprehended thousands of migrants in Biden’s first six weeks in office, many of whom are unaccompanied minors.
The influx has prompted the administration to reopen a Texas facility for young migrants that was used briefly by the Trump administration, drawing backlash from progressives. The administration is reportedly seeking to get the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) involved as well to bolster resources near the border to handle the surge in crossings.
Biden officials have urged migrants not to come to the border at this time, asking for patience as the administration gets leadership and systems in place to handle those seeking to enter the country.
In the meantime, the president has denied that the influx amounts to a crisis.
“No, we’ll be able to handle it, God willing,” Biden said this week.
