Rep. Kevin Cramer Kevin John CramerMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day On Paycheck Protection Program, streamlined forgiveness is key McConnell shores up GOP support for coronavirus package MORE (R-N.D.) defended housing detained migrant children in chain-link cages, comparing them to the chain-link fences found around playgrounds and baseball diamonds.

Cramer, the GOP nominee for a North Dakota Senate seat, said during an interview with North Dakota’s KTGO radio station on Wednesday that while he wanted immigrant families to stay together, the use of chain-link fences for migrant families was fine.

“By the way, chain-link fences are around playgrounds all over America, all over North Dakota, and the chain link fences allow line-to-sight visual connectivity with children and families,” Cramer said.

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“There’s nothing inhumane about a chain-link fence ― if it is, then every ballpark in America is inhumane,” he continued.

Cramer was asked about those comments on a different radio interview with WDAY in North Dakota later Wednesday. When asked if he had heard audio of the children crying in a detention center, he said the chain-link fence is "irrelevant to the crying children."

“Well, chain-link fences have been used to protect children from predators on playgrounds, baseball diamonds, all kinds of sports courts and what not,” Cramer said.

“So to me, it’s not the chain-link fence,” he continued. “That’s not the issue. That’s a ruse by some on the left to try to create an image that’s far worse in description than it is in reality.”

Cramer added that the value of the chain-link fence is “you can see through it” and that a wall between children and staff “would be far worse.”

The lawmaker made the comments before President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE signed an executive order Wednesday to end his administration's policy of separating immigrant families at the border.

The policy had been widely condemned, including by Democratic lawmakers who visited facilities housing the detained immigrant children. Sen. Jeff Merkley Jeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Sunday shows - Trump team defends coronavirus response Oregon senator says Trump's blame on 'forest management' for wildfires is 'just a big and devastating lie' MORE (D-Ore.), who visited one of the centers, said earlier this month that the facility looked like a "dog cage."