Psaki blames problems at the border on TRUMP and a “wall that would never work” and says the Texas National Guard, 22, who drowned in the Rio Grande was “working for the state” when asked if he was the White House felt “responsible”.
- Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday blasted former President Donald Trump for spending time building a border wall instead of pushing for immigration reform
- Psaki said, “The former president invested billions of dollars in a border wall that would never work.”
- Psaki had been asked about the death of Bishop Evans, a member of the Texas Army National Guard, who was trying to rescue two migrants crossing the Rio Grande
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday blasted former President Donald Trump for spending time building a border wall instead of pushing for immigration reform.
“If we roll it back just a few years to what we inherited here, instead of working toward comprehensive immigration reform, the former president invested billions of dollars in a border wall that would never work or be effective,” Psaki told the news conference .
Psaki had previously been asked about the death of Bishop Evans, a member of the Texas Army National Guard, who went missing on Friday after trying to rescue two migrants crossing the Rio Grande.
Evans was part of Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border response, which Psaki clarified when asked by Fox News Channel’s Jacqui Heinrich if the White House felt responsible for Evans’ death.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday blasted former President Donald Trump for spending time building a border wall instead of pushing for immigration reform on Capitol Hill
Psaki said “the former president invested billions of dollars in a border wall that would never work” after answering questions about a Texas National Guard soldier who died after trying to save two migrants from drowning
Bishop Evans went missing on Friday after trying to rescue two migrants crossing the Rio Grande. He was found dead on Monday
“Does the White House feel any responsibility for his death given reports he lost his life allegedly trying to rescue two migrants struggling with drugs?” Heinrich had asked.
Psaki replied, “Well, of course we mourn his life and we are grateful for the work of every National Guard.”
“I want to note that the National Guard worked for the states and therefore he is an employee of the Texas National Guard and his effort and operation were directed from there and not from the federal government in that effort, in that apparatus,” she said called.
Evans was found dead on Monday.
Psaki had no details on whether President Joe Biden was yet to reach the Texas National Guard’s family.
“I would like to say that of course our hearts go out to his family and loved ones,” she said from the podium.
he was 22
“To confirm all specific details, he went missing on Friday after selflessly trying to rescue two migrants who appeared to be drowning trying to cross a river in Mexico that empties into the United States,” Psaki said. “We know that National Guard personnel, including him, risk their lives every day to serve and protect others.”
“And again, our hearts go out to his family,” the spokesman added.
She also pointed out on Monday that Biden had “explained at length” that the immigration system was broken.
“More needs to be done to invest in smarter security, to have a more effective asylum processing system — and we would welcome any effort … for elected officials to work with us on this,” Psaki said.
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