After visit to Texas detention centers, Pence calls allegations of mistreatment 'slanderous'

Vice President Mike Pence on Friday traveled to two federal migrant detention centers in Texas where he witnessed firsthand the extreme overcrowding migrants have to endure.

Pence said afterward that he had seen evidence of a "system that was overwhelmed." He acknowledged that "the crisis was real" in reference to illegal border crossings and legal asylum claims at the southern border, but he called allegations that detainees were mistreated by Customs and Border Protection "slanderous," arguing that he could see the agents' care and concern. However, footage from Pence's tour of the facility reportedly showed a group of men detained behind a chain link fence shouting that they did not have access to showers.

The vice president later called for Congress to act to end the flow of families coming north from Central America.

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Pence was apparently not thrilled with how his visit to the facilities was covered by CNN. He said that the network only focused on his time visiting adult men, forgoing the moments he spent visiting families and children. Tim O'Donnell