WEBVTT

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well let me start off by thanking the

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president and the vice president for

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their continued leadership and

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commitment for protecting the American

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people during this crisis early on the

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president again took unprecedented

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actions to restrict travel from areas

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affected with the coronavirus and to

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date DHS has screened over 200,000

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individuals coming back from those

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affected countries this has have been an

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immense undertaking but one that the men

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and women of DHS have successfully

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accomplished today's announcement is yet

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another example of the extraordinary

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steps the administration is taking to

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ensure the safety of the American public

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before I comment on the CDC order that

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I'm sure Secretary azar will later

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elaborate on let me first address the

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progress as Secretary Pompeo and others

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have made with our Canadian and Mexican

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partners regarding cross-border travel

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as we continue to evaluate common-sense

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measures that reduce risk and prevent

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further spread it only makes sense that

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we have looked to look at the measures

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that our neighbors to the north and

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south are undertaking and so we've been

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working closely with those partners

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since the earliest days of this virus

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and the outbreak and again as the

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president said earlier this week in

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secretary Pompeo we've reached an

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agreement or an agreement with both

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Canada and Mexico to limit till women

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non-essential travel across our land

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borders let me be clear that neither of

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these agreements with Canada or Mexico

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applies to lawful trade or commerce

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essential commercial activities will not

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be impacted we will continue to maintain

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a strong and secure economic supply

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chain across our borders a few examples

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of a central Travel include but

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certainly are not limited to individuals

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traveling for medical purposes to attend

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educational institutions for emergency

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response public health services and

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individuals engaged in lawful

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cross-border trades as the secretary

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said the agreements with both Canada and

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Mexico will go into effect on Saturday

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March 21st

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furthermore we're also working

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collaboratively with Canada and Mexico

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to take decisive a joint action

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regarding individuals seeking entry

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between our ports of entry

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CDC order directs the Department to

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suspend the introduction of all

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individuals seeking to enter the u.s.

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without proper

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Travel documentation that's for both the

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northern and southern border CDC

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director is determined that the

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introduction and spread of the corona

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virus in the department's border patrol

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stations and detention facilities

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presents a serious danger to migrants

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are frontline agents and officers and

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the American people so it's important to

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note that the department currently

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apprehends foreign nationals from over

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120 different countries around the world

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the vast majority of those having

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coronavirus cases many of these

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individuals arrive with little or no

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identity travel or medical documentation

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making public health risk determinations

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all but impossible it's also too

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important to note that the outbreak on

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our southern border would likely

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increase the strain on health systems

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and our border communities taken away

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important and life-saving resources from

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American citizens tonight again at

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midnight we will execute the CDC order

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by immediately returning individuals

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arriving without documentation to Canada

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Mexico as well as a number of other

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countries without delay so again CBP is

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positioned to execute these measures as

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we continue to keep our borders secure

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and safe before I conclude let me just

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wrap up by thanking the brave men and

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women of DHS specifically CBP and across

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the government for the work that they do

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day in and day out to keep the American

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people safe from the corona virus the

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department has a number of frontline

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officers that have been tested positive

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as well as others who are self

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quarantine and that I am doing

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everything that I can to protect these

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Patriots as they continue to defend our

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homeland during this crisis thank you

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thank you