[ad_1]
\n<\/p>\n
Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen told lawmakers on Wednesday that the US needed to fix what she called a \u201chumanitarian catastrophe\u201d on the Mexican border by supporting President Trump\u2019s wall and cracking down on illegal migrants<\/a> \u2014 even those seeking asylum.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a crisis, pure and simple, and we need to respond accordingly,\u201d Nielsen said in front of the House Homeland Security Committee.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot stand idly by as our border security is further compromised and our immigration laws are exploited.\u201d<\/p>\n And, she warned, the problem will only get worse.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I can report today that CPB is forecasting the problem will get worse this spring as the weather warms up,\u201d she said, referring to Customs and Border \u201cAt the current pace we are on track to encounter close to 1 million illegal aliens at our southern border this year. Of great concern for me is that the children are used as pawns to get into the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n She issued a dire warning about what she called \u201crecycling rings \u2026 where innocent young people are used multiple times to help aliens illegally gain entry.\u201d<\/p>\n And she said Congress needed to act to toughen immigration laws.<\/p>\n \u201cThe laws are not keeping up with the migrant flows,\u201d Nielsen said.<\/p>\n The hearing is one of three at the Capitol on border issues Wednesday.<\/p>\n Since Democrats took control of the House, they have prioritized investigating last year\u2019s family separations and have subpoenaed documents related to the policy.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Protection.<\/p>\n