Washington, June 13 (RHC)-- In the United States, acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan told Congress that 60,000 children have been taken into DHS custody in the last 40 days alone.

Critics say McAleenan’s testimony is part of an ongoing effort to build up a case for more border funding.  His hearing came ahead of a planned vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee next week on President Donald Trump’s request for $4.5 billion in emergency spending tied to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Meanwhile, immigration and human rights advocates are continuing to raise alarm over the dire conditions in which migrant children are being locked up.

And in related news, immigration hard-liner Ken Cuccinelli has assumed the role of acting head of Citizenship and Immigration Services. Several top Republicans have come out against Cuccinelli’s temporary appointment, and Senate Whip John Thune warned the Republican-controlled Senate was unlikely to approve a potential nomination for Cuccinelli to become permanent head of the agency.

As a state lawmaker in Virginia, Cuccinelli authored legislation seeking to force employees to speak English in the workplace, and he unsuccessfully fought to eliminate the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship clause.