White House press secretary Jen Psaki admitted Monday that she isn't aware of leaked footage showing Border Patrol agents in Laredo, Texas, blasting Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz.
"I know that we talked last week about flights, and we've heard the explanation for this procedure that they were frustrated over, but this video seems to show that morale is, you know, in a tough place, that these agents are frustrated who are having to carry out these policies," a reporter said to Psaki, mentioning the video.
The reporter then asked Psaki during the White House press conference Monday if there is going to be "any sort of outreach from the administration to Border Patrol, given that we're seeing more of this come to the surface?"
"I haven't watched in detail the video. I will note that — I think it was the migrant flights video. Is that the one that was — or it's a different video?" Psaki replied.
"It's a different video," responded the reporter.
"Okay. I didn't want to speak to the wrong thing," Psaki continued. "Of course, the role that Border Patrol agents play in ensuring security and safety at our borders is something that there’s great value for in this administration."
She then pointed the member of the press to the Department of Homeland Security, "who oversees, of course, the Border Patrol agents, and can see if there's anything — any more specific programs that are underway."
Ortiz got into a tense exchange with Border Patrol agents when Mayorkas visited. In video shared with Fox News by a Border Patrol source, Ortiz confirmed that "morale is at an all-time low" and that they're "losing too many agents."
"As an organization, we gotta start taking care of each other," Ortiz said.
"I get it," Ortiz said. "You come to work, you're frustrated. You're upset because you didn't get the desired outcome that you want. Doesn't mean you give up."
One of the agents pushed back. "We're not," the agent responded.
"I know you're not," Ortiz answered the outspoken agent. "That's why I'm saying, we don't give up. We stay focused, we continue to do the job and the mission that we signed up for. We all signed up for it, we all raised our hand."
"It's kinda hard to say that when…" one agent began to say.
"It's not hard to say it," Ortiz fired back at the agent. "It may be hard for you to say it. I've been doing this for 31 years. It's not hard for me to say it."
Other agents chimed in, saying "you keep releasing criminal aliens into the country." Ortiz insisted, "You're getting bogged down in the policies and the politics." Multiple agents then said agents can't use the term "illegal aliens."
"You just said it," Ortiz replied. "Ain't nothing gonna happen to you."
Ortiz then questioned the agents: "Why are you guys getting caught up in semantics? … I've been doing this job as long as y'all."
"That's the problem, chief," one agent interjected. "For evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. That's exactly what's happening here. Good men are doing nothing. You're allowing illegal aliens to be dropped off in communities."
Mayorkas admitted last week that illegal immigration in the United States is "worse now than it, frankly, has been in at least 20 years, if not ever."
"We should have enough personnel to take care of the southern border," Mayorkas started. "That's the solution," he said, noting "that hasn't been the case."
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