On Monday, Congressman Michael Burgess told MSNBC’s Chris Hayes that migrant children being held in immigration detention centers are “free to leave.”
The Republican lawmaker from Texas claimed that after having visited several of the facilities, he found nothing overly concerning. He argued that the centers were dutifully caring for the children, though resources are admittedly being stretched.
Of course, he also said that if conditions weren’t up to par, the children could “find another place to live.”
“You know what, there is not a lock on the door,” Burgess specifically told Hayes. “Any child is free to leave at any time.”
An ardent Trump supporter, the congressman added a reason for why these children don’t simply walk out.
“You know why? Because they’re well taken care of,” he asserted.
Burgess also argued that the media has hyperbolized claims regarding the conditions of border camps.
There is, however, a humanitarian crisis going on.
Last week, the Associated Press reported that certain facilities cannot adequately care for the children they’ve taken on. Not only did they describe children caring for each other, but also “inadequate food, water, and sanitation.”
Additionally, the Trump administration has argued in court that soap and toothbrushes are unnecessary for maintaining “safe and sanitary” conditions. Their stance is that these detained minors do not require basic hygiene products, nor do they need beds or blankets.
The “safe and sanitary” requirements, the Justice Department argued, did not list specific necessities.
