The Biden administration's coordinator for the southern border warned Wednesday now is not the time for migrants, especially children and families, "to make the dangerous trip to try and enter the U.S. in an irregular fashion."
"The border is not open," Roberta Jacobson said at the White House briefing.
Jacobson made the comments amid an ongoing surge of unaccompanied minors at the U.S.-Mexico border since President Joe Biden was elected.
Asked if she believed it was a "coincidence" that the surge of migrants trying to enter the U.S. grew in size as Biden took office, the White House border czar explained that "surges tend to respond to hope. And there was a significant hope for a more humane policy after four years of pent up demand."
Jacobson refused to characterize the situation as a "crisis," insisting "whatever you call it, wouldn't change what" the administration is doing.
She said the Biden White House has already taken a number of actions to "both undo the previous administration's policies and to advance a new vision of immigration."
