Trump admin releases video of detention center in Texas

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Monday released footage of an immigration detention center in McAllen, Texas, where children have been separated from their parents as part of the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy at the border.

The footage was released a day after members of the media and several Democratic lawmakers were taken on a tour of the processing facility near the U.S.-Mexico border. Reporters were not allowed to bring cameras into the facility or interview anyone.

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The video shows dozens of children standing or sitting in cages made from metal fencing inside the old 55,000-square foot warehouse, which has been converted into a holding facility. Some people were shown lying down, using foil-like sheets as blankets.

Border Patrol said nearly 200 people in the facility were unaccompanied minors while 500 were “family units” of parents and children, according to CBS News. Many of the adults who have crossed the border illegally could be charged and jailed, splitting them up from their children. 

BREAKING: Border Patrol @CBP just gave us this video of the detention facility we toured yesterday in McAllen, Texas. We weren’t allowed to bring in cameras, or interview anyone. To be clear: this is government handout video. pic.twitter.com/Zjy80qIZFZ

— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) June 18, 2018

The video comes as many Democratic and Republican lawmakers voice outrage over the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy that was announced in April, where adults apprehended outside an official port of entry are prosecuted away from their children.

Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) tweeted on Sunday that officials told him 1,147 children have been separated from parents at the facility in McAllen. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has defended Trump’s policy at the U.S.-Mexico border, and on Monday argued that illegal actions have consequences.

She also argued that Americans should not believe the media in regards to their coverage of the policy, while President Trump has also doubled-down on the policy.

The Associated Press reported on Friday that about 2,000 children were separated from their parents from mid-April to the end of May.