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New York Post
Federal agents instructed to clear streets of migrants and put on a ‘show’ for ‘border czar’ Kamala Harris’ only trip to border
By Jennie Taer,
1 day ago
When Vice President Kamala Harris made her first and only trip to the US-Mexico border , federal agents on the front lines were instructed to completely sanitize the area to hide the true severity of the crisis from cameras, sources told The Post — even going so far as braiding the hair of unaccompanied minors.
Harris, whose first big job as the nation’s No. 2 executive was to control the flow of migrants across the southern border, went to the border near El Paso, Texas, on June 25, 2021, after pressure from Republicans over her handling of the crisis.
Border Patrol sources said agents on the ground were told to start moving migrants out of holding facilities to put on a “show” for Harris.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaking during a trip to the border in El Paso on June 25, 2021. Benjamin Applebaum
“They rented out a ton of hotels and we spent hours moving out bodies. The kids that remained, we had to braid their hair,” one agent said, adding that they “made jokes about how the building was more secure than the whole border was.”
“She had zero interest in really seeing anything. It was rushed,” said a former official who was also present during the trip.
Harris, whom critics dubbed President Biden’s “border czar,” spent the day visiting a migrant processing center and a port of entry alongside Democratic members of Congress and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
While in the processing facility, Harris met some of the migrant children who remained and drew pictures for her.
Federal agents were instructed to sanitize the area to hide the extent of the border crisis during Harris’ visit. YURI GRIPAS/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutter
A closed waiting area at the Paso del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso during Harris’ visit. Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images The inside of the US Customs and Border Protection Central Processing Center in El Paso. Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
But aside from that, things remained quiet, the sources said.
“We sanitized all the aliens out of there to make it look good,” a second agent said.
“They did a cleanup on the streets from all the people that they were releasing that were staying on the streets of downtown,” a third agent said.
Migrants walking across the Paso del Norte international border bridge to enter the United States on June 15, 2021. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez Border Patrol agents at a stash house in El Paso housing 35 migrants on June 28, 2021 — three days after Harris’ border visit.
There were, of course, many migrants in the area at the time.
In June 2021 alone, border agents stopped 21,500 people who crossed the border illegally in the El Paso sector.
The Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond when reached for comment.
Harris’ record on migration is under fresh scrutiny after she appeared to all but lock up the Democratic presidential nomination just two days after President Biden dropped out of the race.
In a call with reporters on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump slammed Harris’ record on the border, and her visit to El Paso.
“She visited the border a single time, far away from the epicenter of the invasion. You don’t even call it a visit,” he said.
“She went to a place that has no problem, and was there for a very short period of time. So essentially, she never visited the border as we know it.”
Other GOP leaders have also slammed Harris’ record on the border.
“Kamala Harris is Joe Biden’s open border czar. By every metric, Harris has failed to secure our borders, advancing far-left Democrats’ failed open border policies and the needs of illegals over the safety of American citizens,” House GOP Conference chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said during a press conference Tuesday.
Early on, she faced pressure to visit the southern border to see the record flows of migrants.
Harris touring the control area for migrants at the El Paso del Norte Port of Entry. Yuri Gripas – Pool via CNP / MEGA Harris visiting the US Customs and Border Protection Central Processing Center. Benjamin Applebaum Harris speaks with staff at the border before departing El Paso. Benjamin Applebaum
“We’ve been to the border. So this whole thing about the border, we’ve been to the border,” Harris said, to which Holt replied, “You haven’t been to the border.”
Harris responded with a trademark laugh: “And I haven’t been to Europe. And I mean, I don’t understand the point that you’re making. I’m not discounting the importance.”
Finally, Harris caved to the pressure and made her way to El Paso just about two weeks later.
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