House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) tore into Trump Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen for trying to evade questions about her department’s detention of children in “cages.”
At a House hearing Wednesday, Chairman Thompson asked Nielsen if her department is still locking children in cages, and showed little patience for her attempts to evade the question.
For the record, Madam Secretary, are we still using cages for children?” Thompson asked.
“Sir, we don’t use cages for children,” Nielsen replied. “In the facilities, that you’ve been to, they were not made to detain children. As the children are processed through, they are in subparts of those facilities…”
“Madam, Madam, Secretary,” Thompson interrupted, over Nielsen’s objections, “just yes or no, are we still putting children in cages?”
“To my knowledge, CBP never purposely put a child in a cage, if you mean a change like this,” Nielsen replied, and pantomimed the formation of a square, Pulp Fiction-style.
“Purposely or whatever, are we putting children in cages? As of today?” Thompson asked.
“Children are processed at the border facility stations that you’ve been at, some of the areas…” Nielsen began.
“And I’ve seen the cages,” Thompson interrupted. “I just want you to admit that the cages exist.”
“Sir, they’re not
“What are they?” Thompson asked.
“They’re areas of the border facility that are carved out for the safety and protection of those who remain there while they’re being processed,” Nielsen began, adding “if we have two gangs, we separate them into separate…”
“No, no, no, Madam Secretary, Madam Secretary, we are not going to go through the semantics,” an impatient Thompson interrupted. “I saw the cyclone fences that were made as cages. And you did too. All you have to do is admit it. If it’s a bad policy, then change it, but don’t mislead the committee. Do not mislead the committee.”
Watch the clip above, via Fox News.