The Trump administration announced Thursday it will start sending asylum seekers who enter the U.S. on the southern border back to Mexico while they wait for the outcome of their claims. The new policy was apparently imposed on the Mexican government by the United States. Mexico has agreed to allow Central American migrants to work and travel within Mexico while waiting on the U.S. asylum process. Under the current system, it can take months or even years to process asylum claims. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced the new policy at a heated congressional hearing where she was asked by Democratic Congressmember Hank Johnson, “Do you view those you call 'illegal aliens' to be human or subhuman?”

Rep. Hank Johnson: “Do you view those to you call 'illegal aliens' to be human or subhuman?”

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen: “Illegal aliens are human, sir.”