Presidential candidate Julián Castro claimed Tuesday that the southern border is "as secure as it ever has been," during his appearance on MSNBC's 'Live with Velshi and Ruhle.'

Stephanie Ruhle asked, "If [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] were to be broken up, how would you deal with the millions of undocumented immigrants already here and those who are crossing the border, the thousands who are crossing the border?”

"I would make sure that we maintain border security and I believe that our border is as secure as it ever has been. I would ensure that we maintain it," Castro answered. "But secondly, I would treat people with compassion and common sense, and not with cruelty."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported earlier this month that there were over 144,000 apprehensions at the southern border during May, and that there have been 676,315 apprehensions this year, which is up 99% over this time last year.

Castro added, "I would also get to the root of the problem. No. 1, we've got to create an immigration judiciary, immigration court system, that has enough judges and support staff to actually get through these asylum claims so that people are not waiting in limbo for years and years."

Ali Velshi then chimed in, asking the former housing and urban development secretary what he'd do about the migrants who came into the country illegally and don't get granted asylum.

"Well, not everybody does get asylum," Castro argued. "I do believe that when they make their asylum claim that we should respect that claim. Yeah, I don’t think everybody is arguing that everybody that claims asylum or wants asylum or wants to come into the United States is going to be able to do that.”

The issue of ICE and illegal immigration took a turn Monday, when President Trump tweeted, "ICE will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States."