White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked during a press briefing Friday several rounds of questions focused on the growing number of migrant children coming to the U.S. southern border.
She was asked specifically if the president felt his rhetoric on the campaign trail had contributed to the current spike in activity.
Psaki stressed the administration has sought to clarify that "this is not the time to come," but said by virtue of taking a different approach and allowing unaccompanied minors to stay, it “mathematically” makes sense that there would be an increase.
Despite the increase, Psaki unequivocally said the administration was not rethinking its policy when it comes to unaccompanied minors at the border.
"I think this issue requires us taking a step back as human beings and as mothers, of which I am one," Psaki said.
"They go through the processing system that everyone goes through, but we want to ensure that that is done by treating them humanely and with respect," Pskai said. "Many of them will be sent back home eventually, but we are talking about how we treat them as they come in the country."
Earlier in the day, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy sent a letter to Biden expressing "great concern" with the administration's approach to the "crisis" at the border and requested a meeting with the president on the issue.
-ABC News' Molly Nagle