As the Biden Administration scrambles to make space for the growing number of people crossing the US-Mexico border, officials announced that migrant families will now be held at hotels in Arizona, the Associated Press reports. According to a statement from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement will takeover several hotels in the Phoenix area along the southwest border. An $86.9 million contract with Endeavors Inc., announced last month, will provide roughly 1,200 beds in Texas and Arizona, where families will stay for no more than 72 hours, the agency said. Meanwhile, thousands of people — including children traveling alone — have poured into the US in recent months. In March, more than 52,900 families were found along the Mexican border and a record-breaking 19,000 children were picked up by US Border Patrol. Officials are expecting the numbers to increase, and are planning for the highest number in 20 years. Only a third of the families were expelled immediately from the US. Those with children under the age of 6 have been released into the country while they await a decision on their asylum cases. The Border Patrol has released about 9,600 people, US Rep. Henry Cuellar told reporters, asking the families to report back to ICE offices in 60 days. But space is scant. Officials have relied on fair grounds, convention centers, and military bases house unaccompanied children. From the AP: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — which places unaccompanied children with “sponsors,” most often parents and close relatives — has found space in convention centers, military bases and other large venues. Los Angeles County officials said Friday that its fairgrounds will be used to temporarily house up to 2,500 unaccompanied children. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican and frequent Biden critic, asked the administration to close a holding facility for unaccompanied children at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, citing allegations that they aren’t getting enough to eat and boys are unsupervised in showers. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that the administration takes the ‘safety and the well-being of children in our care very seriously’ and that authorities would investigate Abbott’s claims, but that, at this point, “we have no basis for his call” to shut down the facility. Pfizer and BioNTech have filed a request to the FDA to expand their Emergency Use Authorization, so that the Covid vaccine could be administered to teens between the ages of 12 and 15. Results from a Phase 3 trial of more than 2,200 children showed that the vaccine was 100% effective on adolescents, and side effects were similar to those experienced by adults. If approved, the expanded authorization would help the US reach herd immunity more quickly. The companies have also already begun trials for younger children between the ages of 6 months and 11 years old. Study participants will be monitored for two years from when they receive their second shot, according to the Associated Press. “These submissions represent a critical step in Pfizer’s and BioNTech’s ongoing efforts to support governments in broadening global vaccination efforts. The companies look forward to working closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other worldwide regulatory authorities as part of the companies’ efforts to expand emergency or conditional authorization of their COVID-19 vaccine in 12- to 15-year-olds as quickly as possible” the companies wrote in a statement released today. The controversial Dakota Access Pipeline will continue to operate as the federal government conducts its environmental review, the Biden Administration said today, dashing the hopes of tribal and environmental groups that expected big changes under a new president. “The company gets to keep the benefits of operating the pipeline that was never properly authorized while the community has to bear the risks,” attorney Jan Hasselman, who represents the Standing Rock Sioux tribe told CNN. “It’s not right. It’s a continuation of a terrible history.” The $3.8bn (£3bn) pipeline, which transports hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil across 1,200 miles and 4 states, has been operating for years, despite questions over the validity of its environmental permits. “The Dakota Access Pipeline is a dirty, dangerous, illegally-constructed pipeline that has continued to threaten Tribal sovereignty and our collective right to clean water and a healthy, sustainable climate” Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said in a statement responding to the announcement. “Today’s decision is deeply disappointing, and we expect the courts to rightfully put an end to the Dakota Access Pipeline, just as we expect the President’s future actions to meet his rhetoric and commitments.” Gabrielle Canon here, signing on from the west coast to take you through the Friday afternoon and evening news. To start us off, Roberta S. Jacobson, the former ambassador to Mexico who now serves as Biden’s “border czar” will leave her post at the end of the month, the New York Times reports. “President Biden knew there was no person better to usher in a more safe, secure, and just approach to our Southern Border,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement announcing Jacobson’s departure, adding that she had committed at the outset to serve during Biden’s first 100 days. But Jacobson’s resignation from her post comes amidst an ongoing crisis, as record numbers of migrants fleeing Central American countries arrive at the US-Mexican border. From the NYT: Two weeks ago, in a separate interview with The New York Times, Ms. Jacobson talked expansively about her plans to travel to Central America, where she said she expected to work with government officials on reducing the flow of migrants north toward the United States. Last month, she traveled to Mexico to discuss with leaders there ways to combat illegal immigration and bolster shelter capacity for migrants. Ms. Jacobson said in the interview that the trip was also an attempt to find ways to collaborate with Central American countries, as well as potentially Canada, to reduce pressure on the United States border. “I would say that we’re — we’re having the beginnings of those conversations,” she said. “But right now, we’re focused more on how we can work with Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries.” At the end of March, the Administration put Vice President Kamala Harris in charge of efforts to reduce immigration from Central American countries, but Jacobson said that was not a factor in her decision. Afternoon summary It’s been a busy Friday in Washington. Here’s what’s happened so far. The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Republican congressman Matt Gaetz, citing the growing allegations against him, including potential sex trafficking. The committee also announced it was opening an investigation into Republican congressman Tom Reed, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by a former lobbyist. Biden established a bipartisan commission to study Supreme Court reforms, including expanding the number of seats and imposing term limits on justices. Biden unveiled his first budget request for Congress, which calls for a 16% increase in discretionary domestic spending. The $1.52tn proposal would increase funding for education, health care and housing, while providing new investments for combating climate change. Amazon workers in Alabama voted against unionization, after a high profile organization drive that drew support from Biden and other high profile policymakers. Biden will meet with a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House on Monday to discuss infrastructure, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. Senator Bernie Sanders, who traveled to Alabama to rally support for Amazon workers attempting to form a union, said he was “disappointed but not surprised” by the result. Sanders, who has long singled out Amazon, praised workers for taking on “one of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful corporations, a company that spent unlimited sums of money to defeat the organizing effort.” Citing the pending complaints before the NLRB, he said workers “should not be intimidated, or badgered” for attempting to form a union, charges Amazon stridently denies. “At a time of mass income and wealth inequality, and when workers have very little power on the job,” Sanders continued, “I applaud the pro-union Amazon workers in Alabama for their courage and willingness to stand up for workers’ rights. They have been an inspiration to workers all across the country.” House Ethics Committee launches investigation into congressman Gaetz The House Ethics Committee announced that it will open an investigation into Republican congressman Matt Gaetz, amid a widening scandal involving allegations related to sex trafficking. In a statement the committee listed said it was aware of the public allegations that Gaetz may have engaged in “sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gift, in violation of House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct.” Since the New York Times reported that Gaetz, a close ally of Donald Trump, was under investigation by the DOJ over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, the 38-year-old Florida congressman has faced a torrent of accusations ranging from alleged sexual misconduct to accusations of impropriety. Gaetz has forcefully denied all the allegations against him. The Ethics Committee also announced a second investigation into Republican congressman Tom Reed, after a former lobbyist publicly accused him of sexual misconduct. Days later, the New York congressman issued an apology and announced that he would not run for governor in 2022. More on Joe Biden creating a commission to review the US Supreme Court. Congressional freshman and New York Democrat Mondaire Jones cheered the announcement. Republicans less thrilled, obviously. Here’s the Texas attorney general. Medical examiner who performed autopsy on George Floyd testifies in murder trial of ex-cop Minnesota’s Hennepin county medical examiner Andrew Baker is testifying this afternoon in the murder trial of white former police officer Derek Chauvin, accused in the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man last May. Chauvin denies all the charges against him. Today is Day 10 of witness testimony. Guardian US is running a dedicated live blog each day of the trial, with a live stream and posts on the testimony, analysis and related issues, so do tune in if that is of interest, you can follow it here. This morning an expert witness for the prosecution, Lindsey Thomas, told the jury that “the activities of the law enforcement officers resulted in Mr Floyd’s death”. Dr Thomas testified that she believes “the primary mechanism of [Floyd’s] death is asphyxia or low oxygen” that stemmed from police restraint. The defense wants to show that the death was down to illicit drugs and underlying poor health. We expect that this historic trial will reach defense witnesses next week. We’ll bring you the proceedings in a dedicated live blog each day, with a live stream, and with contemporaneous posts and analysis. The killing of George Floyd on 25 May, re-galvanized the Black Lives Matter movement and the biggest US civil rights protests since the 1960s spread across the US in a reckoning on police brutality and entrenched racism. The Trumps offered their “deepest and most profound condolences” to the Royal family and the British people over the passing of Prince Philip, calling his death an “irreplaceable loss for Great Britain, and for all who hold dear our civilization.” In an effusive statement, Trump said the prince “embodied the noble soul and proud spirit of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth”, that he “defined British dignity and grace” and “personified the quiet reserve, stern fortitude, and unbending integrity of the United Kingdom.” Trump fondly recalled his visit to the United Kingdom. “We saw firsthand how the Monarchy epitomizes and carries on the virtues of the British People—and no one did so more than Prince Philip,” Trump said. Trump has long held a deep affection for the Royal Family, particularly Queen Elizabeth who he once claimed had “never really made a mistake” in her life. “You don’t see, like, anything embarrassing,” he said. “She is just an incredible woman.” Amazon workers in Alabama defeat union drive Amazon workers in Alabama voted overwhelmingly against unionization, defeating a high-profile organizing effort that attracted support from the president, lawmakers, celebrities and activists. Workers at the Bessemer, Alabama, plant have voted 1,798 to 738 so far to reject the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Counting concluded on Friday morning, and would next focus on adding up challenges and voided ballots, but the margin of victory may be too much to change the outcome. The union immediately said it would launch a legal challenge to the result, which is likely to look at the high number of contested ballots and union allegations of unfair tactics during the campaign. Amazon shares rose 0.8% Friday, adding to earlier gains. In a statement, RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum vowed: “We won’t let Amazon’s lies, deception and illegal activities go unchallenged, which is why we are formally filing charges against all of the egregious and blatantly illegal actions taken by Amazon during the union vote.” In a statement of its own, the e-commerce giant said: “Amazon didn’t win – our employees made the choice to vote against joining a union. Our employees are the heart and soul of Amazon, and we’ve always worked hard to listen to them, take their feedback, make continuous improvements, and invest heavily to offer great pay and benefits in a safe and inclusive workplace. We’re not perfect, but we’re proud of our team and what we offer, and will keep working to get better every day.” Psaki said Biden will meet with Republicans and Democrats on Monday to discuss infrastructure. She insisted that Biden was still committed to seeking a bipartisan consensus even as Republicans unify against the plan. “The disagreement is not really about the need to modernize our nation’s infrastructure,” she said. “It’s about the size, it’s about the pay-fors. We absolutely understand there will be compromise, there will be debate. That’s all a part of the process.” Asked about the decision by Amazon workers in Alabama not to form a union, Psaki said that Biden would “wait for the NLRB to finish its process and declare a result before making a formal comment”, but underlined his support for the Pro Act, which would amend labor law to strengthen protections for workers seeking to form a union and outlaw tactics that employers often use to quash organizing drives. In a video ahead of the vote, Biden said he supported the organizing drive in Alabama, without specifically naming Amazon. On calls for Justice Breyer to retire, Psaki said that was a decision for him to make. She said she was unaware of any conversations between the president and the justice. Biden’s address to a joint session of Congress will “not be next week”, Psaki said. She declined to offer a timeline of when the president might deliver that message to Congress, as the last several presidents have done during their inaugural year in office. “I promise you, we will have something to sell in this speech, and we will use it for that opportunity,” she said. Psaki said Biden has not been in touch with No 10 or the Royal Family about the death of Prince Philip and said the president has no current plans to attend his funeral. Buttigieg said he hadn’t met with Senator Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat who is opposed to Biden’s plan to raise the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. He prefers a rate of 25%. Buttigieg wouldn’t say how the lower rate might affect plans to underwrite the first piece of Biden’s nearly infrastructure plan, which totals $2.3tn, but said he looks forward to discussing this with Manchin during a forthcoming conversation. But, he added, “I haven’t heard a proposal that I consider to be better than the one the president put forward.” Biden will need the support of at least all 50 Senate Democrats – if not 10 Republicans – to pass the legislative package. The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, is now taking over the briefing. The transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, is at the podium in the White House briefing room today to promote Biden’s American Jobs Plan, which he called the “biggest investment in jobs since World War II”. He said the jobs that would be created by the president’s sprawling infrastructure agenda were “not mysterious or overly futuristic” and would help create a pathway to the American class. He said the plan would pay for itself by tax hikes on corporations, which has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans and businesses. “This is a jobs plan that builds the American economy from the middle class out,” he said. “And it’s coming at exactly the right time.” Buttigieg is now taking questions. Bidens extend "deepest condolences" over passing of Prince Philip In a statement, president Biden and his wife, Jill, offered their “deepest condolences” to Queen Elizabeth and the entire royal family following the death of Prince Philip. Philip died on Friday, aged 99. Over the course of his 99-year life, he saw our world change dramatically and repeatedly. From his service during World War II, to his 73 years alongside the Queen, and his entire life in the public eye — Prince Philip gladly dedicated himself to the people of the UK, the Commonwealth, and to his family. The impact of his decades of devoted public service is evident in the worthy causes he lifted up as patron, in the environmental efforts he championed, in the members of the Armed Forces that he supported, in the young people he inspired, and so much more. His legacy will live on not only through his family, but in all the charitable endeavors he shaped. Jill and I are keeping the Queen and to Prince Philip’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in our hearts during this time.