MSNBC "The Rachel Maddow Show - Transcript: "House expected to vote tonight on border."

Interview

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MADDOW: Joining us now is Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, Democrat of New Mexico. Congressman, thank you very much for being with us. I know it`s a busy night with lots of votes tonight.

REP. BEN RAJ LUJAN (D-NM): Rachel, thanks for having me tonight.

MADDOW: Let me ask about, a lot has happened. Just in the past 24 hours, a lot has happened with regard to the Border Patrol and the Trump administration and attempts at accountability for the way these kids are being treated on the border. Can you give us any up-to-date understanding in terms of what Congress is trying to do to stop this behavior by the administration or to hold anybody accountable for it?

LUJAN: Well, first, Rachel, there should be no question that the Trump administration, as has been reported, appears to be intentionally mistreating these kids, separating them and putting them in the most inhumane conditions. And what Congress is doing right now under Democratic leadership with Speaker Pelosi at the helm is making sure that we`re passing an initiative to direct more funding with guardrails so that we`re able to get food, supplies, sanitary items, blankets, making sure that there`s health care provided for these kids and for these families as well and ensuring that there`s going to be humane treatment of these children. But make no mistake. I travelled personally with other members of Congress to some of these facilities. These kids were in cages, sleeping on floors, foil blankets, overcrowded cells where they were sharing one latrine, one open toilet. For families making coverings however they could with their bodies shielding so people could use the restroom with no dignity. It`s an absolute shame. Shame on the Trump administration for doing this.

MADDOW: We`ve learned that as the Democratic candidates are convening in Miami, a number of them have been making an issue while they`re taking this trip here, making an issue of the conditions in one facility that`s not far from Miami. It`s in Homestead, Florida. Beto O`Rourke, Jay Inslee have gone or going. Elizabeth Warren said tonight that she is going to Homestead migrant detention facility tomorrow, ahead of tomorrow night`s debate in which she will appearing. She told a crowd in Miami tonight they should come with her on that trip. Do you think it makes a difference for you to do these congressional visits like the one you just described for these presidential candidates to show up, to bring people with them? I feel like the more this stuff gets exposed, the more dug in the Trump administration gets on the idea that they actually think this is the way this ought to be done.

LUJAN: Rachel, I would say it`s absolutely imperative that more members of Congress visit these facilities. As a matter of fact, the legislation that we`re voting on in just a few minutes has language that allows members of Congress to do spot visits at these facilities without having to be prior approved. Look at just Clint, Texas. A member of Congress tried showing up to that facility where they took 300 kids out and they wouldn`t let her in. And then she went back the next day, there were no children. Now, we`re finding out those children are being sent back there. So it`s absolutely imperative that members of Congress continue to show up and that`s why we need to pass this language that cannot prevent members of Congress from being able to go into those facilities to inspect them themselves.

MADDOW: Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, thank you so much for joining us tonight from Washington. Much appreciate your time, sir. Thank you.

LUJAN: Thanks for having me.

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