- [Heather] New numbers from Border Patrol

show a startling uptick,

especially among children and families.

In January and February theyspiked by more than 100%.

Kids crossing alone rose60% to more than 9,000.

- There is a crisis on theTexas border right now.

- [Heather] But whilethe governor of Texas

is calling it a crisis,

the White House is not.

- I'm not trying to be cute here,

but I think the fact of the matter is

we have to do what we do

regardless of what anybodycalls the situation.

- [Heather] This, afterPress Secretary Jen Psaki

deflected questions about numbers

to Homeland Security Tuesday.

- I'm not gonna confirm numbers from here.

Those numbers are tracked

by the Department of Homeland Security,

so I'm certainly, I'm justsuggesting that you talk to them.

I would encourage you to go back to them

and ask them again.

- [Heather] Republicans blamethe President's policies

and support for a pathway to citizenship,

saying they've encouraged the surge.

- They're perfectlyfine having open borders

that endanger the livesof American citizens,

but also, the immigrantswho seek to come here.

Children being abused on the journey

while they claim in thefalse name of compassion

that open borders issomehow pro immigrant.

- [Heather] on Wednesdaythe President's coordinator

for the Southern border

admitted that it was no coincidence

the surge began after Biden took office.

- Surges tend to respond to hope.

And there was a significanthope for a more humane policy

after four years of pent up demand.

- The government is holding

children and families ingovernment and private facilities

for several days,

and looking for more housingas it evaluates asylum claims.

But the majority of the bordercrossers are single adult,

and the Biden administration is turning

almost all of them backunder a public health order

that started at thebeginning of the pandemic.

Heather Sells, CBN news.