美国国土安全部部长亚历杭德罗·马约尔卡斯(Alejandro Mayorkas)周五将前往南部边境访问，目前围绕拜登政府如何应对移民激增，特别是孤身儿童的争议越来越大。
DHS说，马约尔卡斯作为国务卿第二次前往得克萨斯州埃尔帕索，“视察工作，听取关于抵达我们边境的无人陪伴儿童的处理、庇护和转移的简报”。
该机构表示，由于新冠肺炎的限制和隐私问题，此行不对媒体和公众开放。
知情人士和俄亥俄州参议员罗布·波特曼(Rob Portman)的发言人告诉美国广播公司新闻(ABC News)，预计这位民主党主席和参议院国土安全委员会(Senate Homeland Security Committee)的共和党高层将与马约尔卡斯(Mayorkas)一起前往边境。
除了波特曼和密歇根州主席加里·彼得斯之外，预计其他两名参议员也将成为代表团的一员。
在…上《哥伦比亚广播公司今晨》周四，马约尔卡斯被问及关押儿童的海关和边境保护设施的条件如何——他说他参观了其中一个设施。
“这里很拥挤，请记住，我们正在应对一场流行病，所以我们正在应对物理距离等方面的限制。但是床垫和毯子实际上是经过选择的，所以对孩子们来说是最安全的，”梅尔卡斯说。“所以实际上，我们给这些孩子的设备和食物都是有选择地为他们选择的。但我得再说一遍，因为我不是有意要从这里走开，边境巡逻站不是小孩子待的地方。”
没有媒体或公众亲眼见过CBP或HHS设施内的情况。
在对美国广播公司新闻的一份声明中，美国海关和边境保护局表示，是否允许进入设施是在个案基础上进行评估的。
该机构表示:“自2020年3月以来，由于机构COVID协议，并为了保护我们的员工和护理人员的健康和安全，CBP一直不鼓励外部游客在CBP的设施，包括媒体搭便车。”。"我们提供并利用户外采访或虚拟运营简报."
梅尔卡斯说，DHS正与卫生和公众服务部合作，迅速建立更多的设施来安置儿童。
他向移民重申了他的信息:现在不要来美国。
“它不来是因为旅行不安全，在大流行的时候到达边境不安全。家庭和单身成年人被驱逐。让我们建设，让我们重建，”他说。
DHS Secretary Mayorkas to visit border amid controversy over migrant surge
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was headed to visit the southern border Friday amid growing controversy over how the Biden administration is dealing with a surge in migrants, especially unaccompanied children.
Mayorkas is making his second trip as secretary to El Paso, Texas, "to view operations and receive a briefing on the processing, shelter, and transfer of unaccompanied children arriving at our border," DHS said.
The trip is closed to the press and members of the public due to COVID-19 restrictions and privacy concerns, the agency said.
The Democratic chairman and top Republican on Senate Homeland Security Committee are expected to travel with Mayorkas to the border, sources familiar with the plans and a spokeswoman for Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, told ABC News.
In addition to Portman and chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., two other senators were expected to be part of the delegation as well.
On"CBS This Morning" Thursday,Mayorkas was pressed on what conditions are like inside the Customs and Border Protection facilities where children are held -– one of which he said he has he toured.
"It's crowded, and remember we're dealing with a pandemic, and so we're dealing with restrictions on physical distancing and the like. But the mattresses, the blankets are actually selectively chosen so that they're safest for the children," Mayorkas said. "So actually the equipment, the provisions that we give to these children are selectively chosen for their care. But I have to repeat because I don't mean to walk away from this, the border patrol station is not a place for children."
No media nor the public has seen the conditions inside CBP or HHS facilities firsthand.
In a statement to ABC News, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said whether to allow access to facilities is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
"Since March 2020, CBP has discouraged external visitors in CBP facilities, including media ride-alongs, due to agency COVID protocols and in order to protect the health and safety of our workforce and those in our care," the agency said. "We are offering and utilizing outdoor interviews or virtual operational briefings."
Mayorkas said DHS is working with the Department of Health and Human Services to quickly set up more facilities to house children.
He reiterated his message to migrants: Do not come to the United States now.
"It's do not come because it is not safe to take the journey, it is not safe in a time of pandemic to arrive at the border. Families and single adults are being expelled. Let us build, let us rebuild," he said.
