“The question is now: Are we gonna get serious about dealing with this problem in a systemic way, as opposed to these one-offs where we’re constantly reacting to emergencies? And I think that that’s something that every American should wanna put an end to,” Obama continued, referencing the release of images and videos which depicted mounted Border Patrol agents allegedly whipping Haitian migrants attempting to cross the border.

“It is heartbreaking, and it is, I think, one of those situations in which if you have a system that overall is dysfunctional, you are going to get episodes in which what’s happening right in front of you is something that nobody wants.”

Obama explained that while immigration may be a difficult issue because Americans want to help others in need, specifically when they see “families that are desperately trying to get” to the U.S. in order to escape from “violence or catastrophe,” that there are also rules and laws.

“We’re a nation-state. We have borders. The idea that we can just have open borders is something that … as a practical matter, is unsustainable,” Obama said.