Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy once again engaged in a chaotic back-and-forth with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as the question-and-answer session became heated over the ongoing illegal migrant crisis.
Upon taking office in January 2021, President Joe Biden immediately reversed the majority of his predecessor’s strict immigration and border enforcement policies, which Republicans say has led to historic levels of illegal crossings and smuggling of drugs like fentanyl that are killing nearly 100,000 Americans a year.
Doocy was preparing to ask a question about the arrival of thousands of illegal migrants at Eagle Pass, Texas, this week, but Jean-Pierre countered with a question of her own, leading to the tense exchange, with her shouting before finally moving on to other reporters:
DOOCY: So, what do you call it here at the White House when 10,000 people illegally cross the border in a single day?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, what do you call it, Peter, when GOP puts forth a — wait, no —
DOOCY: Asking are you —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, no, no, no, no, no, you can’t —
DOOCY: Karine —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I’m answering.
Okay, we’re going to move on.
DOOCY: You’re answering a question —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, no, no, no —
DOOCY: — with a question.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, no, no —
DOOCY: Okay.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, no, no — no, no, no. We’re moving on.
DOOCY: Karine, please —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We’re moving. In the back. Go ahead.
Jean-Pierre got a number of questions regarding the ongoing migrant crisis, some of which she did answer:
Q: The administration said yesterday it was granting temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans. At the same time, the city of Eagle Pass in the Rio Grande has announced a state of emergency because of immigrants surge. Is there any concern that the timing of this Venezuelan TPS announcement might exacerbate what’s happening in Eagle Pass right now? And — and, you know, essentially, is this going to make the situation in Eagle Pass worse?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, we have worked very hard — the President have worked very — very hard to pleme- — implement a strategy, when it comes to the border, that is humane, safe, and has orderly enforcement. That is something that we have tried to do and worked really hard to do these last two years.
I do want to add a couple of things that we also announced yesterday, as you — just to note — I’m sure you know — which is escalating the fight against smuggling and trafficking by prosecuting an increasing number of smugglers as well as non-citizens who are violating our laws. Right? This is an announcement we made yesterday.
Also, in deploying 800 new active-duty military personnel to support border efforts and get CBP agents and officer out in the field. This is up to — up to — this on top of the 2,500 National Guard personnel also deployed.
And expanding the Fentanyl [Family] Expedited Removal Management.
So, those are three other pieces that we announced, as well as the Venezuela TPS yesterday.
Let’s not forget the 24,000 CBP agents and officers along the southwest border.
So, we have taken steps without the help of — of Republicans in Congress to do everything that we can to deal with this issue.
And let’s not forget what the Republicans proposed. Their continuing resolution would lead 800 CBP agents and officers being fired and (inaudible) 50,000 pounds of cocaine, more than 300 pounds of fentanyl, more than 700 pounds of heroin, and more than 6,000 pounds of — of other drugs to — to enter the country.
That is what they proposed just a day — a day ago. And that’s what that would do to the — to the border; it would hurt and harm and not deal with the issue.
So, they are doing the opposite of what the President is trying to do — is actually move forward in a way that is humane, safe, and has an orderly enforcement pathway process here.