CNN "The Lead with Jake Tapper" - Transcript: Border Crisis

Interview

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Let's bring in Congressman Michael McCaul, who represents a wide swath of Southeast Texas, and has been highly critical of the president's handling of this problem. He's also the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Congressman, thanks for being here.

REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL (R), TEXAS: Thanks, Jake.

TAPPER: If you're one of these House Republicans the president has been poking fun at. He has a point, why won't House Republicans even vote on immigration reform, which does include greater protection at the border?

MCCAUL: Well, this is not about immigration reform. It's about security. And I would argue if he wants solutions, taking shots at Republicans -- House Republicans is not the most effective, most productive way to go about this process.

We are looking at his supplemental request. I'm on the task force.

TAPPER: It's about $3.7 billion. MCCAUL: Precisely.

What we want is a message of deterrence. I went down to the border, unlike the president who came to my home state and couldn't take the time to go down and see these kids, these children, on the border. Instead he goes to fundraisers.

I think that's a real slap in the face to the crisis at hand. I think this needs real solutions and it's going to require us working together.

TAPPER: What do you think of the $3.7 billion?

MCCAUL: We're scrubbing the numbers. I think it's a little bit inflated. I think we're -- we want to -- we will appropriate money towards this. But we want it to go towards deterrence.

We cannot allow all these kids to come across the border. We're going to have to start turning them back. Otherwise, they're going to keep coming.

I think the president's message has always been, you know, we're open for business. Come on in. And his policies have dictated that. That's what's caused a crisis.

When I talked to Department of Homeland Security, they say it is this false message, a permiso, free pass getting into the United States that's driving all these kids coming across.

TAPPER: Some of that, of course, from the law signed by President Bush that you voted for in 2008 which would treat Central American kids differently than Mexican kids. Mexican kids sent back immediately. Kids from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala not sent back. They're given a chance to make their case. In retrospect, was that a bad law? Do you wish you hadn't voted for it?

MCCAUL: It was a fast track bill. We didn't even have a recorded vote on it. Feinstein put the amendment in, unintended consequences to legislation. I think you're going to see Congress go back and look at that law so that when Mexicans cross they're treated the same as other than Mexicans from Central America.

To me, that makes sense. If you're a Mexican crossing, there's an expedited removal. If you're other than Mexican, there's not. And I think that's the problem with the law right now, and I think lawmakers need to look at, at changing that law.

TAPPER: One of the issues is a lot of these kids are fleeing poverty. But some of them are fleeing worse than poverty. And some of them are I mean, Honduras, I believe is -- is it Honduras or Guatemala, the murder capital --

MCCAUL: Honduras.

TAPPER: Honduras, the murder capital of the world. And El Salvador and Guatemala aren't too far behind. They're also top five. Are you not all worried about that you send these kids back, I understand the precedent, but you send these kids back, you might be sending them to death.

MCCAUL: Well, look, under the law, if there's a fear of persecution or violence, legally, they can stay in the country. But the problem is that current law, they're in Health and Human Services custody within 72 hours, and then they're brought together with family members in the United States. Most of these little kids, very sympathetic.

I got to tell you, Jake, I was some 17-year-olds that didn't look like little kids to me that, quite frankly, concern me about them coming into the United States, with no education, can't speak English. I'm not sure what they're going to be doing in the United States of America.

We want to be compassionate and humane in what we do, but we have to send a message of deterrence, otherwise they're going to keep coming into the United States.

TAPPER: All right. Congressman Michael McCaul, thank you so much. We appreciate your time.

MCCAUL: Thanks, Jake.

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