Biden officials defend border response as number of migrant children in U.S. custody tops 20,000

The Biden administration is defending its response to the historic number of migrant children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border alone, touting efforts to open more than 20,000 beds for the minors, as well as assistance to Central American communities suffering from poverty, violence and natural disasters.

"We have made significant progress," one senior Biden administration who requested anonymity said during a call with reporters on Wednesday.  The official, however, cautioned that "nobody should have the expectation this is going to be solved overnight," saying the Biden administration is digging itself out of a "hole" created by former President Donald Trump's asylum restrictions and reluctance to expand shelter bed space for migrant children.