Biden's pick for border chief says there isn't a crisis at the border: Ted Cruz introduces bill to send migrants to Democratic hotspots like Martha's Vineyard and Palo Alto

• Biden's pick to head Customs and Border Protection, Chris Magnus, refused to classify the situation at the southern border as a crisis
• Republican Senator Todd Young of Indiana pushed Magnus on the surge of illegal immigration under Biden during a confirmation hearing on Tuesday
• 'Does it really matter whether we call it a major challenge, a crisis, a big problem?' Magnus questioned, without saying if he thought it was a crisis
• Also on Tuesday, Senator Ted Cruz introduced a bill that would move processing centers for illegal migrants to where 'Democrat elites host their cocktail parties'
• This includes North Hero, Vermont, where Bernie Sanders spends his summers, and Martha's Vineyard, where Barack Obama owns a home 
• Cruz hopes this will alleviate pressures on southern border states and hit closer to home for Democratic elites, who he claims are ignoring the crisis

Joe Biden's pick to head Customs and Border Patrol refused on Tuesday to call the situation at the southern border a crisis as Senator Ted Cruz proposed legislation that would bring the crisis to where 'Democrat elites host their cocktail parties' – like Martha's Vineyard.

During a Senate confirmation hearing, Republican Senator Todd Young said to Biden's pick Chris Magnus: 'I'd like to start off with a yes or no question. Do you believe we have a crisis at the southern border – yes or no?'

'I'm not sure – does it really matter whether we call it a major challenge, a crisis, a big problem?' Magnus countered.

'I think it speaks to a level of urgency and seriousness of purpose and understanding of the gravity of the situation,' the Indiana senator pushed back. 'Presumably one would answer the call to serve in this position because you understand the importance at this moment in history of being commissioner of CBP.'

Young then reiterated his question: 'So, do we have a crisis at the border – yes or no?'

'Let me assure you that no one believes there is greater urgency to this matter than I do. I have been at the southern border –' Magnus started, but was cut off.

'So it's urgent – I've heard the characterization,' Young said. 'Urgent strikes the common ear as less than a criss. Are you saying there's not a crisis at the border?'

'Senator, no I don't think – I don't speak to urgent as less serious, at all.'

The Biden administration has repeatedly refused to call the unfolding situation at the southern border a crisis, instead dubbing a problem or challenge.

Even the president and his press secretary have refused to classify it as a crisis despite record numbers of illegal crossings and horrific and inhame pictures emerging from the border the U.S. shares with Mexico.

On Tuesday, Senator Cruz of Texas proposed a bill that would move processing centers for illegal immigrants around the country in a hope it would hit closer to home for Democratic elites, who he claims are ignoring the crisis.

'If Washington Democrats had to endure even a fraction of the suffering South Texas families, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses have had to face, our nation's immigration laws would be enforced, the wall would be built, and the Remain in Mexico policy would be re-implemented,' Cruz wrote in introducing the legislation.

The Stop the Surge of Unsafe Rio Grande Encampments Act (SURGE) is aimed at alleviating the strain put on southern border state communities as the border crisis prevails.

Cruz said the bill would establish 'new ports of entry in Democrat-led communities such as North Hero, Vermont, where Bernie Sanders spends his summers, and Martha's Vineyard, where Democrat elites host their cocktail parties.'

Notably, Barack and Michelle Obama own a property on Martha's Vineyard – an elite island community located off the coast of Massachusetts. The former president held a massive 60th birthday party there in August.

Other areas where Cruz is proposing these centers be set up are Greenwich, Connecticut; Cambridge and Nantucket, Massachusetts; Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where Joe Biden owns a beach home; and Palo Alto, California. 

Senator Young continued during Tuesday's hearing to push Magnus on how he views the southern border conundrum considering, if confirmed, he would lead the agency directly involved with mitigating illegal immigration.

'Is there a crisis or is there not a crisis at the border?' Young asked on Tuesday.

'I would say that my highest priority is going –' Magnus started.

'I didn't ask your priority,' Young cut in. 'I asked you to characterize the situation at the border. Is there a crisis at the border?'

'You've been nominated to serve as the commissioner to the Customs and Border Patrol agency at a time that I regard as a crisis. Are you saying there is not a crisis?' he asked for a final time.

'Senator, what I'm certainly trying to convey is how serious I take what's happening at the border and the amount of work that I want to put into addressing it,' Magnus said.

'Noted, noted.'

At the hearing, Magnus admitted that it would be beneficial for some areas of the southern border to be reinforced with a wall.

Montana Senator Steve Daines asked if Magnus feels they should complete the wall that former President Donald Trump started.

'There are some gaps where [a border wall] could make sense,' Magnus said.