Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen hasn’t wasted any time lying under oath during her testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee Wednesday, when Chair Bennie Thompson asked her if migrant children were still being held in cages.
"Sir, they're not cages!” she replied, but not answering the question. "We're not going to go through the semantics,” Thompson said. “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.”
Nielsen also falsely claimed that “there was no parent who has been deported, to my knowledge, without multiple opportunities to take their children with them.” The reason why separated kids have continued to remain in U.S. custody or with foster families is because their parents were already deported. Some parents have said that they were coerced or misled into deportation without their kids.
Nielsen has also been questioned on how many children have died while in federal immigration custody. "So far this [fiscal] year we’ve had three,” she replied. "So far?” an astounded Rep. Nanette Barragán shot back. “Madam secretary, are you expecting more children to die?"
In December, seven-year-old Jakelin and eight-year-old Felipe died while in Customs and Border Protection custody. Last month, a woman delivered a stillborn baby while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Nielsen said she hasn’t spoken to any of the families about their losses.