President Trump commented on the controversy surrounding detention of illegal immigrant children at a White House event for the National Space Council (full event replay here).



"If I might, I -- I just wanted to make a brief statement on immigration and what's happening," the president said. "And I'll say it very honestly, and I'll say it very straight: Immigration is the fault, and all of the problems that we're having, because we cannot get them to sign legislation. We cannot get them even to the negotiating table. And I say it's very strongly the Democrats' fault. They're obstruction -- they're really obstructionist, and they are obstructing."



"The United States will not be a migrant camp, and it will not be a refugee holding facility. Won't be. You look at what's happening in Europe, you look at what's happening in other places; we can't allow that to happen to the United States. Not on my watch."











He also says, "We want safety and we want security for our country. If the Democrats would sit down, instead of obstructing, we could have something done very quickly. Good for the children. Good for the country. Good for the world."





PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you very much...



If I might, I -- I just wanted to make a brief statement on immigration and what's happening. And I'll say it very honestly, and I'll say it very straight: Immigration is the fault, and all of the problems that we're having, because we cannot get them to sign legislation. We cannot get them even to the negotiating table. And I say it's very strongly the Democrats' fault. They're obstruction -- they're really obstructionist, and they are obstructing.



The United States will not be a migrant camp, and it will not be a refugee holding facility. Won't be. You look at what's happening in Europe, you look at what's happening in other places; we can't allow that to happen to the United States. Not on my watch.



For the rest of the world, you look at everything that's taking place; pick up your newspapers this morning, and you see.



We want safety and we want security for our country. If the Democrats would sit down, instead of obstructing, we could have something done very quickly: good for the children, good for the country, good for the world. It could take place quickly. We could have an immigration bill. We could have child separation. We're stuck with these horrible laws. They're horrible laws.



What's happening is so sad. It's so sad. And it can be taken care of quickly, beautifully, and we'll have safety.



This could really be something very special. It could be something, maybe even for the world to watch. Just like they're watching our great economy, how it's soaring, they could watch this.



We have the worst immigration laws in the entire world. Nobody has such sad, such bad and actually, in many cases, such horrible and tough -- you see about child separation, you see what's going on there.



But just remember: A country without borders is not a country at all. We need borders. We need security. We need safety. We have to take care of our people.



You take a look at the death and destruction that's been caused by people coming into this country without going through a process -- we want a merit-based immigration system, so that Boeing and Lockheed and all of the people -- Grumman, all of the people that are here today, the heads of every company -- so that you can hire people on a merit-base.



You know they're coming in, they're people that came on merit, not based on a lottery or not people that snuck across the border. And they could be murderers and thieves and so much else.



So we want a safe country. And it starts with the borders and that's the way it is.



Now I'd like to -- thank you.



(APPLAUSE)



Thank you.



And again, we can do this very quickly if the Democrats come to the table. Everybody wants to do it. We want to do it more than they do. If they come to the table instead of playing politics, we can do it very, very quickly.



So welcome to the third meeting of the National Space Council. I want to begin by recognizing our great vice president, Mike Pence, who's been so involved.