Rep. Raul Labrador (R., Idaho) criticized the Obama administration's border policy and rhetoric Sunday on Meet the Press during an interview on U.S. immigration policy.
Appearing after Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, Labrador told host David Gregory the administration was "making stuff up" about the border crisis, particularly with regards to blaming poverty and violence in their home countries on why more and more children were flooding the borders from Central America.
Violence and poverty have existed in those countries for many years, Labrador said, and reports suggest the influx is more due to the rumors that new U.S. policy will allow any children, estimated to be as many as 200,000 next year, who cross the border to stay.
"Now they come on national TV and they say they're doing everything they can to stem the flow, but that their No. 1 priority is actually to make sure that we do right by these children," Labrador said. "The thing this administration needs to do is immediately deport these families, these children. I know it sounds harsh, I know it sounds difficult, but they are creating a crisis at this time that is actually going to harm these children."
The dangerous journeys these children take to try to reach the U.S. leave them vulnerable to rape and other horrific acts of violence.