WATCH: Psaki Dodges Question About Smugglers Throwing Small Children Over Border Wall

 



White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki dodged a question on Thursday about smugglers throwing small children over the southern border wall, and instead shifted attention to the reporter’s motivation for asking the question.

“And then, on immigration, has the White House considered beefing up border security now that there is video of a three-year-old and a five-year-old being thrown over the wall in New Mexico?” Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked.Psaki said that the administration has “spoken out about our concerns” regarding what the smugglers are doing.

“Yes, but they still got close enough — as you guys are talking about addressing root causes in the region — for a smuggler to throw them over a wall into the desert,” Doocy said. “And I’m just curious what the White House is doing to stop that from happening?

“And are you concerned more about the kids’ safety or are you concerned about kids getting in?” Psaki asked. “Or tell me more about your concern here.”“Kids’ safety is, as you just mentioned, the main concern,” Doocy responded.

“Well, of course it is, which is why I’m often surprised by some of the line of questioning here,” Psaki responded. “But I will say that our concern and our focus is on sending a clear message to smuggler — to the region that this is not the time to come. You should not send your kids on this treacherous journey. That these smugglers are preying on vulnerabilities in these communities, there’s a lot of issues and steps we need to take to address root causes. So, of course, our concern is for the safety of these kids. These Border Patrol agents who save these kids deserve our thanks and our gratitude for ensuring their safety.”

WATCH:


TRANSCRIPT:

PETER DOOCY, FOX NEWS REPORTER: And then, on immigration, has the White House considered beefing up border security now that there is video of a three-year-old and a five-year-old being thrown over the wall in New Mexico?

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Beefing up border security?

DOOCY: Well, there are — there’s video now of a three-year-old and a five-year-old —

PSAKI: I’ve seen the video, and I think any of us who saw the video were incredibly alarmed by the steps of smugglers — ones that we have been quite familiar with, that we’ve spoken out about our concerns about. As Secretary Mayorkas said, “The inhumane way smugglers abuse children while profiting off parents’ desperation is criminal and morally reprehensible.” The President certainly agrees with that.  And these kids, I believe, were rescued from — by individuals who are working at the border.

DOOCY: Yes, but they still got close enough — as you guys are talking about addressing root causes in the region — for a smuggler to throw them over a wall into the desert. And I’m just curious what the White House is doing to stop that from happening.

PSAKI: And are you concerned more about the kids’ safety or are you concerned about kids getting in? Or tell me more about your concern here.

DOOCY: Kids’ safety is, as you just mentioned, the main concern.

PSAKI: Well, of course it is, which is why I’m often surprised by some of the line of questioning here. But I will say that our concern and our focus is on sending a clear message to smuggler — to the region that this is not the time to come. You should not send your kids on this treacherous journey. That these smugglers are preying on vulnerabilities in these communities, there’s a lot of issues and steps we need to take to address root causes. So, of course, our concern is for the safety of these kids. These Border Patrol agents who save these kids deserve our thanks and our gratitude for ensuring their safety.

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