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DHS Ramps up Deportation Flights; No Pathway to Citizenship in Budget Proposal; Trump Recruiting Challengers to Oust McConnell; Breyer Says the Court Isn't Political. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired September 20, 2021 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:30:53]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says that he is headed to the U.S. southern border today to access the growing crisis in Del Rio, Texas. You've seen the pictures. Nearly 12,000 migrants, many of them originally from Haiti, have crowded in a makeshift camp under the Del Rio International Bridge in hopes of being processed into the United States.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Due to the chaos, though, that processing center has been closed. The Biden administration has ramped up flights to send migrants back to their home countries.

CNN security correspondent Josh Campbell is near the border in Del Rio, Texas, and CNN's Priscilla Alvarez joining us as well.

Josh, let's start with you.

So, Secretary Mayorkas making his way there today. What time is he expected?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that news coming from our colleague, Priscilla Alvarez. The DHS secretary will be coming here today just after 12:00 p.m. local time. He will be receiving an operational update. He will then address the press.

This, obviously, coming after this humanitarian crisis that we've seen here where you have thousands of migrants that include families, that include pregnant women and children, living under the Del Rio International Bridge behind us in these squalid conditions, sleeping on dirt, surrounded by trash, exposed to the elements.

Now, the DHS secretary spoke to our colleague, Jim Acosta, over the weekend. He said that his department is working with the Red Cross and other aid agencies to try to get food into this makeshift camp, as well as to try to improve the sanitary conditions.

But he also made clear that those migrants who are here that don't have a lawful purpose for entering the United States, such as seeking asylum, they will be sent back to the places from which they came.

Take a listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: We are surging resources and we have a multi-pronged approach to this. We have, for example, worked with the American Red Cross to bring in supplies and much-needed resources to the population. We have worked with World Central Kitchen to bring in meals for them. We've surged approximately 600 agents so that we can gain complete control of the individuals there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMPBELL: Now, we talked about also these repatriation flights where they've already begun to send some of these migrants back to places like Haiti. As far as numbers, where we are now, as of yesterday, just under 12,000 people still under this bridge. Authorities say they're working at a goal of processing 3,000 per day.

SCIUTTO: Priscilla Alvarez with us, too.

And this is interesting, right, because the trump administration actually deployed military resources to the border famously during the Trump administration, but we know that the DHS is now asking for help from the Defense Department. What help exactly?

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN IMMIGRATION REPORTER: They are. And this is primarily logistics support. So it's not uncommon for the Defense Department to provide support in securing the border, but this is yet another example of the Department of Homeland Security shoring up resources to handle the situation on the ground. This is the all of government effort that Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, was referring to. Not only are they seeking help from DOD, but they also have Health and Human Services personnel on the ground to attend to any medical issues that might arise. And they've also sent 600 agents down to the area. So all of this to get a handle of the situation as they ramp up those deportation flights to Haiti.

SCIUTTO: Josh said the goal is 3,000 a day. I mean there's some 12,000. I mean do they expect to have that group cleared within -- within the space of a few days?

ALVAREZ: So, on Sunday, there were three repatriation flights. We expect that to continue and also to ramp up. But it's still a difficult situation because that assumes that they can hold only those that are under the bridge and that no more will add on to that.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

ALVAREZ: And so it's still a very difficult situation and they say they're going to ramp up those repatriation flights, which is going to be quite challenging, not only for them, but for the people who, in some cases, haven't been in Haiti for several years.

SCIUTTO: Right, it goes back to the last major earthquake.

Priscilla Alvarez, Josh Campbell, thanks very much.

HILL: Overnight, a major blow. Oh, do we still have Josh. We do still have Josh.

Josh, I'm just curious, you know, as Priscilla just pointed out, in terms of processing all these folks and even dealing with these flights, it also takes into account, can they basically hold that number where it's at?

[09:35:09]

I mean we know from the reporting that there are still people trying to make their way there to that area. What is the situation on the ground right now in terms of how those numbers are growing or not?

CAMPBELL: Yes, you know, my colleague, Julia Jones and I, we just did a tour around the area. You see some of the migrants that are behind fencing, that are awaiting processing. This place has been locked down. You can see behind me, there are state troopers here that have closed the Del Rio Port of Entry. We've seen a surge of resources, state trooper, federal agents and officers here coming to try to contend with this issue.

Of course, as you mentioned, one key point, this is on the U.S. side. It's unclear what things will look like on the Mexican side of the border and how close officials are working with authorities there to try to stop additional influx of people coming to this location. As you mentioned, 12,000 people, that's a lot. They have a lot to work through.

I mentioned 3,000 per day is their goal. But one remaining question is whether they will see additional resources. We'll have to wait and see whether this number continues to grow.

HILL: Yes. Josh Campbell, Pricilla Alvarez, appreciate it. Thank you both.

Overnight, a major blow to Democrats on immigration. The Senate parliamentarian knocked down that -- their plan to include a pathway to citizenship in that $3.5 trillion budget bill.

SCIUTTO: CNN congressional correspondent Lauren Fox is on Capitol Hill with more.

And, Lauren, of course, there's another path here, right, bipartisan legislation. It's been tried before so many times. It goes nowhere. I mean if they can't sneak it in to the budget bill, I mean is there another path? Is this effort dead for good?

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Jim, I mean they tried for months to find a way forward on comprehensive immigration reform in private negotiations between Republicans and Democrats. And Dick Durbin, who's really been leading this effort and is the leader of the Judiciary Committee, this was his best hope to try to get something for immigration through. But as you noted, the Senate parliamentarian ruling last night that this is not something that she believes can be included in that special budget process that allows Democrats to pass a massive bill with just 51 votes or a simple majority. She's arguing that immigration policy is too big, too broad to try to squeeze into this bill. And so that really gives Democrats very few options moving forward.

Now, aides tell CNN that they are going to try to narrow the scope of who might be included. They may try to go back to the Senate parliamentarian. But she made very clear in her ruling, which CNN obtained last night, that this was something that was far too broad and sweeping to be included in that economic stimulus bill that Democrats have been working on for the last several weeks.

We also know, of course, that Republicans had hoped that this would not be included because what they're arguing is that if there is a pathway forward on immigration, it should be in negotiations with them. Clearly that may be the directions Democrats have to go. But they had been hoping to really give 8 million immigrants in this country a way to get a green card. Those included DACA recipients, TPS recipients, farm workers, other essential workers who they argued helped during the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, it's still very unclear what the permanent solution for those individuals in this country will be.

Jim and Erica.

HILL: Well, and also, a week from today, the House expected to vote on that massive $1 trillion infrastructure package. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn saying over the weekend that vote could actually be delayed. But top Democrats now saying they're committed to meeting that deadline.

If that vote is delayed, Lauren, does this effectively kill reconciliation?

SCIUTTO: Yes.

FOX: Well, look, there's a very delicate tap dance that Democratic leaders are going to have to usher through in the next several weeks. A couple of moving pieces here. You had that $1.2 trillion infrastructure package that already passed the Senate. Progressives are arguing that unless that $3.5 trillion economic package is finished, they may vote against that $1.2 trillion infrastructure package.

Now, moderates still have many concerns about what is going to be included in that broader economic package. And I think you have people, like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema over in the Senate, saying that price tag's still too high. Can they find a way forward in a week? I think that that's a pretty tall order. But, obviously, we'll be watching up here on Capitol Hill.

SCIUTTO: It's a big test -- it's a big test for Democrats.

Lauren Fox on The Hill, thanks very much.

Coming up next, former President Trump is reportedly mounting a campaign now to oust Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. How are Senate Republicans reacting?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:44:19]

SCIUTTO: Well, former President Trump is looking now to push Mitch McConnell out of his spot as Senate Republican leader and is actively trying to recruit challengers. That according to a report in "The Wall Street Journal." Sources also tell "The Journal" that so far there does not seem to be much appetite for replacing McConnell.

HILL: CNN's Melanie Zanona joins us now live from Capitol Hill.

So what more do we know about this maneuvering, or attempted maneuvering I guess, being done by the former president?

MELANIE ZANONA, CNN CAPITOL HILL REPORTER: Yes, well, Donald Trump is trying to take his feud with Mitch McConnell to the next level. Of course, it's no secret that these two had a falling out in the wake of the 2020 election. Even though Mitch McConnell did not vote to convict Trump in the Senate impeachment trial, he strongly condemned Donald Trump for his rhetoric and behavior leading up to January 6th and he also privately blames Trump for the pair of losses in the Georgia Senate races.

[09:45:08]

And now Trump, who is known to hold a grudge and is already on a revenge campaign, is actively trying to find someone who challenge McConnell for GOP leader, according to "The Wall Street Journal." However, there appears to be little, if any, appetite inside the Republican conference to do that. Even Tommy Tuberville, one of Trump's top allies in the Senate, told "The Wall Street Journal" that he thinks Mitch McConnell is doing a good job and this is not a fight he wants to engage in.

And I think it really speaks to a few points. Number one, Mitch McConnell is still widely viewed as an effective and respected leader inside the conference. I mean keep in mind there is a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court right now because of Mitch McConnell and Republicans know that.

And, number two, Trump's grip on the GOP isn't quite as strong as it is in the House Republican conference.

Now, all of that being said, this proxy war between Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell is only just beginning because Donald Trump has been wading into GOP primaries and Mitch McConnell has made clear that he, too, is willing to get involved, even if it means putting himself at odds with Trump.

And so it's very possible that we could see Mitch McConnell, the highest-ranking Republican in the country, on a collision course with Donald Trump, who, according to our latest CNN polling still remains a popular and influential figure in the GOP.

Jim. Erica.

HILL: Melanie Zanona, live for us on Capitol Hill. Melanie, thank you.

SCIUTTO: This just in to CNN. The White House will be announcing new relaxed travel rules for people flying to the U.S. from the U.K. and the European Union. Fully vaccinated passengers will be able to come here to the U.S. starting in November. Prior to this, only American citizens, their immediate families and green cardholders have been able to travel to the U.S. if they had visited the U.K. or the European Union. We're going to have more on this in the next hour. Big implications for international travel.

HILL: Yes, absolutely, as we continue to follow that.

Meantime, has the highest court in the land turned into just another political arm? A Supreme Court justice weighs in, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:51:30]

HILL: Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer defending the court just weeks ahead of its new term. Breyer insists the court is not driven by political considerations but by judicial philosophy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER, SUPREME COURT: There are many jurisprudential differences and it isn't totally jurisprudential, but it isn't really right to say that it's political in the ordinary sense of politics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: CNN Supreme Court reporter Ariane de Vogue, here.

I mean this question has been asked repeatedly.

ARIANE DE VOGUE, CNN SUPREME COURT REPORTER: Yes.

SCIUTTO: And, listen, the machinations that got these folks into seats on the court, highly political, particularly in the last couple of years.

DE VOGUE: Right.

SCIUTTO: What distinction is he trying to make there, political but not in the ordinary sense of politics?

DE VOGUE: So he's talked for years. He's saying the Supreme Court justices aren't what he calls junior varsity politicians. They're judges who interpret the law.

So the best way to understand is, for instance, is to look at Roe v. Wade, right? A conservative justice, someone like Clarence Thomas, believes that the Constitution should be interpreted as it was written. He sees no right to an abortion in the Constitution, therefore he thinks Roe was wrongly decided. Whereas Breyer thinks that the Constitution evolves. So he thinks Roe would be OK. He thinks it's all about how a judge looks at the law.

But here's where he gets into trouble. Think about this Texas abortion law. It went into effect. The majority allowed it to. And clearly on its face it looks unconstitutional, right? But the majority allowed it to go into effect because Texas politicians wrote it a particular way.

So the general public looks at that and says, that looks like a political move. So that's what Breyer is trying to push back against, but it's a little tough right now because really the court is in this political spotlight and he is worried about the institution of the court.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

HILL: Yes. Well, you know, and perhaps rightly so, based on, as you point out there, Ariane, what the public sees.

Meantime, I do want to just ask you another question about that Texas abortion law. A doctor in the state says he violated that new law. What more do we know about this? Why is he speaking out?

DE VOGUE: Well, this is interesting because this is a whole new step now. Remember that this law was written very carefully and it was very difficult to challenge unless somebody performed an abortion. So that put doctors in this Catch-22. They wanted to get back into court so that somebody could say, look, this law is unconstitutional. But in order to do so, they'd have to perform the abortion and then they'd find themselves liable for tons of different kinds of fees and legal proceedings.

So now this doctor, over the weekend, said, look, I have done it. I have performed one of these abortions. That opens up a new legal challenge, but is also is an interesting standoff, right, because you wonder if supporters of the law really want it to go into court because then a judge might say, look, this is unconstitutional.

So right now we're in a new step of this Texas law that has caused already so much litigation.

SCIUTTO: Yes, a legal game of chicken there, right? Does this drive at the court here they finally get a chance to judge us on the merits?

Ariane de Vogue, thanks very much.

DE VOGUE: Thank you.

SCIUTTO: There is breaking news in the pandemic. It's good news. Pfizer has just released new data about the effectiveness of its vaccine in younger children. It is effective. It's safe. The results, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:59:24]

SCIUTTO: A very good Monday morning to you. Some good news this morning. I'm Jim Sciutto.

HILL: And I'm Erica Hill. Welcome to all our viewers here in the United States and around the world.

We do begin with good, breaking news. Encouraging data from Pfizer's latest vaccine trials for children age five to 11. The new data show a robust and well-tolerated antibody response according to the company and that means an Emergency Use Authorization for that group could perhaps come rather soon. The urgency, of course, to get kids vaccinated has never been higher. Since July, pediatric cases and hospitalizations have soared.

SCIUTTO: Plus, several challenges now confront President Biden today.

[10:00:02]