The Biden administration wants to send $4 billion to Central America to stop the migrant surge that isn't a crisis

Roberta Jacobson, the White House border czar, just said at the daily press briefing that the Biden administration will request $4 billion in aid for Central America to help stop the migrant surge:

Roberta Jacobson at WH press briefing: Ask of $4 billion for Central America will be part of foreign assistance package request.

— Sabrina Rodríguez (@sabrod123) March 10, 2021

“We know how to get money to communities that are most likely to send migrants,” she said:

Roberta Jackson of the NSC on how the Biden admin plans to spend $4 billion immigration request.

"We know how to get money to communities that are most likely to send migrants," she says. She adds that aid to hurricane-struck locations are priority.

— Anders Hagstrom (@Hagstrom_Anders) March 10, 2021

She did admit these investments may not pay off for years:

WH border coordinator Roberta Jacobson on the $4 billion Biden is seeking to stabilize Central American nations:

"Only by addressing root causes can we break the cycle of desperation."

Such investments is clearly needed but may not pay off fo years

— Ben Schamisso (@schamisso) March 10, 2021

So, sure, more money for street lights. Keep up the good work, everyone:

Interesting answer from Roberta Jacobson of the NSC here.

Has the U.S. really paid for streetlights in South American countries in an effort to reduce immigration? pic.twitter.com/BG3DB50io4

— Anders Hagstrom (@Hagstrom_Anders) March 10, 2021

She also told migrants that our border is not open and they shouldn’t come to the U.S.:

Biden's border czar, Roberta Jacobson, warns migrants not to come to U.S. as DOS re-starts the CAM program to reunite migrant children with parents.

"The border is not open," she said. https://t.co/1eWUf0Xgq8

— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) March 10, 2021

She said it in Spanish, too, so you know she means business (although she got it wrong the first time):

Jacobson, after being passed a note, cleaned up her message about the border being closed which she'd delivered (incorrectly at first) in Spanish.

The first time, she said: "la frontera no esta cerrada."

Just now: "la frontera esta cerrada."

— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) March 10, 2021

You’d think, right?

Great question from @nancycordes: Shouldn't the administration have been better equipped to handle this influx of migrant children at the border given the change in policy?

— Caitlin Huey-Burns (@CHueyBurns) March 10, 2021

And she won’t call what’s happening a “crisis”:

Jackson says she isn't "trying to be cute" but doesn't directly answer when asked by @kaitlancollins if there's a crisis at the border — "Whatever you call it, it doesn't change what we're doing"

— Christian Datoc (@TocRadio) March 10, 2021

She did, however, admit that people did believe they’d have a better shot at staying in America under Preisdent Biden:

Jacobson answers @pdoocy question about whether it's "a coincidence" border crossing attempts spiked after Biden took office:

"The idea that a more humane policy would be in place may have driven people to make that decision," she said.

— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) March 10, 2021

Watch a clip here:

.@KaitlanCollins: "Would you describe what's happening on the border as crisis, given how these numbers are spiking so much week-by-week?"

Jacobson: "I'm not trying to be cute…[T]he fact of the matter is we have to do what we do regardless of what anybody calls the situation" pic.twitter.com/Eeo5d6Lgmx

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) March 10, 2021