Biden Admin Says It's Sending Bridge Migrants Back to Haiti, but Thousands Actually Being Released Into US

The Biden administration is struggling to get control of the escalating crisis at the border as bipartisan criticism of its handling of the problem intensifies. The stunning video of 10-15,000 migrants detained under a bridge went viral earlier this week, exposing the latest incident.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas faced tough questions from Republican senators on Capitol Hill on Tuesday over the migrant crisis.

"How many people have been returned, how many have been detained, and how many have been dispersed to all points around America?" asked Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI).

"Senator I would be pleased to provide you with that data," replied Mayorkas.

"I want them now - why don't you have that information now," pressed Johnson.

More than 14,000 migrants have surged the border in just one spot in Texas over the past week. Many are from Haiti, fleeing massive earthquake devastation and political violence. They've been rounded up into an outdoor detainment camp under a bridge. 

The Haitian migrant crisis comes as the border has already been swamped by the highest number of migrants in 20 years, reaching over 200,000 in both July and August.

Thousands seeking asylum under a Texas bridge have already been sent back to their home countries, but now comes news that many of them are being released into the U.S.

The Biden administration believes it can process remaining migrants by the end of the week.   

But according to the Associated Press, two officials say many Haitian migrants are being allowed to continue on into the U.S., undercutting the Biden administration's public statements that the thousands in the camp faced immediate expulsion. 

Haitians have been freed on a "very, very large scale" in recent days, according to one U.S. official who put the figure in the thousands. The official, with direct knowledge of operations who was not authorized to discuss the matter and thus spoke on condition of anonymity. 

Many of those released have faced minimal processing and have simply been told to appear at an immigration office within 60 days.

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott (R-TX) visited the border Tuesday.

"They have shown no capability of being able to process all of these migrants by the end of this week. The only thing that they have shown is an incapability of dealing with this crisis," Abbott said of the administration.

Both Democrats and Republicans are critical of the White House's handling of the crisis after images of U.S. Border Patrol agents on horseback using whips and aggressive tactics went viral this week.

"The policies that are being enacted now — and the horrible treatment of these innocent people who have come to the border — must stop immediately," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told the Senate on Tuesday.

Border agents defend their actions, calling them part of their training.

"We do not know who are the smugglers or who are the migrants," said Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz. "So, it's important that the Border Patrol agents maintain a level of security."

The president promised to fix the situation, saying Tuesday, "We will get it under control."

For now, at least 10,000 men, women, and children are still encamped under the Del Rio International Bridge.

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