President Donald Trump defiantly held to his administration’s policy to criminally prosecute anyone who illegally crosses the U.S.-Mexico border, during a speech Monday before a meeting of the National Space Council.

“The United States will not be a migrant camp and it will not be a refugee holding facility. It won’t be. You look at what is happening in Europe and other places, we can’t allow it to happen to the United States. Not on my watch,” Trump declared.

The president’s comments come as his administration continues to criminally prosecute illegal immigrants resulting in family separation at the border. Trump urged Democratic lawmakers to accept to his immigration priorities in legislation which would end the practice at the border. The president also referenced the ongoing migrant crisis in Europe, which he also tweeted about Monday morning.

We don’t want what is happening with immigration in Europe to happen with us! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018

Approximately 11,000 children have been separated from parents at the border resulting in intense media scrutiny. The Trump administration defends the practice saying that if they did not criminally prosecute they would have to catch and release whole family units into the interior of the country.

Children are being used by some of the worst criminals on earth as a means to enter our country. Has anyone been looking at the Crime taking place south of the border. It is historic, with some countries the most dangerous places in the world. Not going to happen in the U.S. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018