THE GOP BORDER GRIFT – PART (WE LOST COUNT)

Today, House Republicans are holding a hearing to perpetuate the myth that they are serious about border security, but we’ve all seen this MAGA show before. Republicans pose for photo-ops at the border so they can then claim they are MAGA enough, like former President Trump, and justify their stereotyping and fear-mongering. They celebrated Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott for using vulnerable migrants for a political stunt. Following President Biden’s re-election announcement, the Republican National Committee released a 30-second ad that used artificial intelligence technology to create fake foreboding images of migrants flooding across the U.S. border. Rep. Russell Fry fundraised off the fentanyl crisis and border security. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan sent a fundraising email for Rep. Fry using rhetoric about a “failed open border agenda.” House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has even suggested starting a war with Mexico as a solution to the fentanyl crisis. They do all of this despite reporting that showed Republicans’ rhetoric about “open borders” could be making the situation at the border worse. They’ve also even said they want to defund the Department of Homeland Security, the very agency tasked with the border security that they profess to care so deeply about. It’s clear that House Republicans aren’t serious about putting forward bipartisan solutions to reform our immigration system and this hearing will be no different.

MAGA Republicans Use The Border To Advance Their Own Political Ends

HOUSE REPUBLICAN BORDER PHOTO-OPS SHOWCASE MYTH THAT THEY WANT BORDER SECURITY

Washington Post’s Paul Waldman: “It’s A Myth That MAGA Republicans Want ‘Border Security’ That Is Genuinely Achievable Or See The Border As A Policy Problem To Be Solved In Any Meaningful Sense.” “The fantasy that the border is constantly in chaos has become a marker of MAGA identity. It’s a myth that MAGA Republicans want ‘border security’ that is genuinely achievable or see the border as a policy problem to be solved in any meaningful sense. The border crisis, or at least the version that Greene and her cohorts keep invoking, exists largely in the collective MAGA imagination.” [Washington Post, Paul Waldman, 5/19/23]

HEADLINE: “Some In Border Communities ‘Tired Of Photo Ops’ Ahead Of Congressional Visit” [KENS 5, 3/25/21]
HEADLINE: “House Republicans Turn Southern Border Into Second Campus” [The Hill, 2/17/23]

America’s Voice: “Instead Of Actually Legislating, The Speaker Is Doing Yet Another Border Photo Op To Send A Message To His MAGA Critics That He’s Opposed To Immigration As Much As They Are And Get Himself On Fox News.” “Douglas Rivlin, director of communications for immigration advocacy group America’s Voice, argues the GOP border visits serve largely as dog whistles to what he calls MAGA Republican extremism. ‘So instead of actually legislating, the speaker is doing yet another border photo op to send a message to his MAGA critics that he’s opposed to immigration as much as they are and get himself on Fox News,’ said Rivlin, a former Democratic congressional staffer. ‘Nativism has become the heart of MAGA Republicanism and the speaker and the Republican Party are in their grips.’” [NPR, 2/16/23]

Washington Post’s Paul Waldman: “Unlike Media Events That Bring Useful Attention To An Issue, When Politicians Prance Around At The Border It Makes Actual Reform Less Likely, Not More.” “House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s trip to the border on Tuesday was a reminder: No stage outside of Washington is more regularly ascended by costumed congressmembers than the southern border. But unlike media events that bring useful attention to an issue, when politicians prance around at the border it makes actual reform less likely, not more.” Washington Post, Paul Waldman, 11/23/22]

Washington Post’s Paul Waldman: “If A Politician Preens On The Border And No One Records It, It Makes No Sound.” “If you are a member of Congress headed to the United States’ southern border, you will need a few things. A camera crew, of course — if a politician preens on the border and no one records it, it makes no sound. Comfortable shoes are a must, since you might climb down to the shore of the Rio Grande to gaze determinedly into Mexico, and you don’t want to slip in your wingtips.” [Washington Post, Paul Waldman, 11/23/22]

WHILE THEY POSE FOR PHOTOS AT THE BORDER, REPUBLICANS’ “OPEN BORDERS” RHETORIC COULD ACTUALLY BE MAKING THINGS WORSE…

HEADLINE: “How the Right’s “Open Borders” Myth Might Be Fueling the Migration Crisis” [Vanity Fair, 3/24/23]

U.S. Customs And Border Protection Is One Of The Largest Law Enforcement Agencies In The World. “Every year the United States spends many billions of dollars securing the 2,000-mile border it shares with Mexico. This perpetually growing investment has made Customs and Border Protection—which is staffed by more than 60,000 federal employees—one of the largest law enforcement organizations in the world.” [Vanity Fair, 3/24/23]

Human Smugglers Reportedly Frequently Promote “Open Borders” To Drive Up Business From Migrants Looking Desperately For A Way Into The United States. “Just how this misinformation is reaching migrants is not entirely clear. But it’s well known that human smugglers, who ferry migrants across the border for a fee, have widely promoted the “open borders” lie as a way of driving business, according to Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute, a nonprofit that works with migrants. ‘Smugglers are constantly peddling that type of misinformation because they’re looking to feed their bottom line,’ he said, noting that traffickers falsely advertise ‘open’ crossings to migrants desperate for a way into the US.” [Vanity Fair, 3/24/23]

Executive Director Of America’s Voice, Vanessa Cardenas, Accused The GOP Of Being The Best Open Border “Propaganda Machine” And Said The Impact Of Disinformation On Migrants Provided Smugglers The Ability To Recruit And Encourage Irregular Migration. “Vanessa Cardenas, the executive director of America’s Voice, said that she, too, has heard accounts of migrants receiving misinformation about the porousness of the border from social media and smugglers. “The best ‘open border’ propaganda machine is, in fact, the GOP,” she said in an interview. “We know the impact this disinformation has on migrants, who largely get information through online platforms. And we know that smugglers take this information and use it for their own purposes––to recruit and encourage irregular migration.” [Vanity Fair, 3/24/23]

…AND THEY’VE EVEN SUGGESTED STARTING A WAR WITH MEXICO AS A SOLUTION TO THE FENTANYL CRISIS

HEADLINE: “These Republicans Want Drone Strikes on Mexico” [Daily Beast, 3/17/23]

Rep. James Comer Claimed Not Bombing Fentanyl And Crystal Meth Labs Across The Southern Border “Was A Mistake” And Did Not Understand Why The Military Didn’t Let President Trump Do It. “Pompeo claimed to have lobbied for drone strikes on America’s neighbor during the Trump administration. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican, also bemoaned on Fox News last week that the Trump administration had not bombed drug labs across the border. ‘One of the things we learned post-Trump presidency is that he had ordered a bombing of a couple of fentanyl labs, crystal meth labs, in Mexico, just across the border, and for whatever reason the military didn’t do it,’ Comer said on Tuesday. ‘I think that was a mistake.’” [Daily Beast, 3/18/23]

FACT CHECKERS FOUND GOP CLAIMS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN DISMANTLED BORDER SECURITY AND PROMOTED OPEN BORDERS WERE “FALSE”

HEADLINE: “Joe Biden Doesn’t Have An ‘Open Border’ Policy, So Why Do Republicans Say Otherwise?” [Newsweek, 1/24/22]

Politifact Rated A Republican Claim That “Biden And Democrats Have Dismantled Border Security” As “False.” “Laxalt claimed, ‘Biden and Democrats have dismantled border security.’ Immigrant encounters have drastically increased over the past two years, but not because of funding or staffing cuts. The budgets for border security under the Biden administration are comparable to those under Trump. Border Patrol staffing has remained fairly consistent despite long-term hiring and retention challenges. And border laws and policies to prevent immigrants from remaining in the U.S. continue to be enforced under Biden’s presidency. The Biden administration stopped building additional miles of barriers at the southwest border; however, Biden did not order a dismantling of the barriers built under Trump or other administrations. Biden’s administration has used previously appropriated funds to repair barriers and close gaps that have become popular areas for immigrants to cross into the U.S. We rate this claim False.” [Politifact, 11/3/22]

Politifact Found Conservative Claim That The U.S. Southern Border Was “Now Open To Anyone From Anywhere In The World” After Biden Became President As “False.” “Pirro said the southern U.S. border ‘is now open to anyone from anywhere in the world who wishes to enter our country.’ That’s wrong. Large numbers of migrants are attempting to cross the border, but it is not open to anyone who wants to enter the U.S., regardless of their background. Most of the encounters that CBP recorded at the border in February resulted in quick expulsions under the same public health-related authority that was invoked under the Trump administration. We rate this statement False.” [Politifact, 3/23/21]

Republicans Fearmonger About Immigration So They Can Use It As A Campaign Talking Point

HOUSE REPUBLICANS FUNDRAISED OFF THE FENTANYL CRISIS AND ACCUSING BIDEN OF PUSHING AN “OPEN BORDER AGENDA”

5/23/23: Rep. Chip Roy Fundraised Off The Expiration Of Title 42 And His Push To Impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. According to a fundraising email sent by Chip Roy’s congressional campaign: “Since Title 42 expired, there have been over 21,000 migrants released into the United States, with 4,000 more coming every single day. Alejandro Mayorkas knew this was coming. He willfully lied to the American people when he told us he had operational control of the border. He has put our nation – and the migrants seeking to come here – in danger. He should be held accountable and impeached immediately. << Chip in to help us keep fighting for secure borders by making a quick donation to our campaign >> Secretary Mayorkas is the tip of the spear for Biden’s failed policies. He’s lied to me. He’s lied under oath. Texans are dying. Cartels are empowered. The House of Representatives should hold him and the failed Biden Administration accountable. It’s time to Impeach Mayorkas. For Liberty, Chip Roy U.S. Congressman, TX-21.” [Chip Roy for Congress, Fundraising Email, 5/23/23]

5/5/23: Rep. Russell Fry Fundraised Off The Fentanyl Crisis And Securing The Southern Border. “Two milligrams! The fraction of a penny! This is all it takes for fentanyl to kill an adult male. But because of Biden and the Democrats’ catastrophic handling of the Border Crisis, thousands of pounds are flooding into our neighborhoods, killing thousands of Americans every year. I’m urging you to sign the petition supporting the Republican plan to crack down on cartels, secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities.” [Facebook, Russell Fry, 5/5/23]

3/30/23: Jim Jordan Sent A Fundraising Email For Russell Fry And Said Fry Was “One Of The Strongest Conservatives Helping Lead The Investigations Into The Administration’s Failed Open Border Agenda.” “I’m on my way down to South Carolina before our first FEC Quarterly deadline of the election because Democrats have put a major target on Russell Fry’s back. Russell has been one of the strongest Conservatives helping lead the investigations into the administration’s failed open border agenda and the weaponization of the federal government to silence Conservatives. Leftist megadonors and special interest groups are cutting multi-million-dollar checks targeting Republicans like Russell. If he’s outraised in this first quarter, our investigations and our Republican Majority will be in serious jeopardy. The next two days are critical. I’m urging you to join me by stepping up with an End-of-Quarter contribution of $5, $25, $50, or more to help Russell fight back. Friday’s FEC deadline is our first test. We can’t give the Democrats any momentum this early in the race. I hope we can count on you to stand with Russell before our deadline expires. Thank you, Jim Jordan” [Russell Fry for Congress, Fundraising Email, 3/30/23]

5/11/23: In A Fundraising Email Endorsing Former President Trump’s Candidacy, Rep. Jim Jordan Cited Border Security As A Reason To Endorse Trump.

[Jim Jordan for Congress, Fundraising Email, 5/11/23]

NATIONAL REPUBLICANS USED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO CREATE FAKE IMAGES OF MIGRANTS AT THE BORDER TO FEARMONGER ABOUT A SECOND BIDEN TERM

May 2023: The Republican National Committee Released A 30-Second Ad Responding To President Joe Biden’s Announcement That He Would Seek Reelection In 2024. “Now, a transformative and largely untested technology looks set to revolutionize political campaigning: artificial intelligence. But the computer-generated content, which blurs the line between fact and fiction, is raising concerns ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The Republican National Committee threw down the gauntlet last week when it released a 30-second advertisement responding to President Joe Biden’s official announcement that he would seek reelection in 2024.” [CNN, 5/2/23]

The Ad Used AI Technology To Create Fake Foreboding Images Of Migrants Flooding Across The US Border. “The ad, uploaded to YouTube, imagined a dystopian United States after the reelection of the 46th president, presenting stark images of migrants flooding across the US border, a city on lockdown with soldiers on the streets, and Chinese jets raining bombs on Taiwan. But none of the foreboding images in the video were real – they were all created using AI technology.” [CNN, 5/2/23]

House GOP Fearmonger About The Border, But Then Vote Against Border Patrol Funding And Call To “Stop Funding” For DHS

DECEMBER 2022: REP. JAMES COMER SAID HE WOULD LOVE TO “CUT OFF ALL FUNDING” FOR BORDER SECURITY

HEADLINE: “Key GOP Rep Wants to ‘Cut Off All Funding’ for Border Security” [Daily Beast, 12/20/22]

James Comer Said He Would “Love To Cut Off All Funding For Everything” In Regards To Discussing Border Security. “‘That’s a great point. You know, everything is about more money for the Biden administration,’ Comer replied. ‘When they say the Republicans haven’t funded this—we would love to cut off all funding for everything and have a discussion about how to secure this border.’” [Daily Beast, 12/20/22]

REP. CHIP ROY CALLED TO “STOP FUNDING” THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Chip Roy Said He Would Support Cutting Funding For The Department Of Homeland Security. “Similarly, one of the chief hard-right negotiators of the speakership deal, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tex.), on Monday pointed to another large federal agency that he argued should be in line for cuts: the Department of Homeland Security.” [Washington Post, 1/10/23]

Chip Roy Said The United States Would Have To “Stop Funding” The Department Of Homeland Security To Secure The Border Of The United States. “But Roy’s line of reasoning appears to be pretty new for a GOP lawmaker. ‘So it’s time right now for the House majority to do our job,’ Roy said, ‘and we’re going to have to stop funding a Department of Homeland Security that refuses to secure the border of the United States.’” [Washington Post, 1/10/23]

Rep. Chip Roy Was Even Willing To Hold The Debt Ceiling Hostage And Risk A Government Shutdown Over Construction Of Trump’s Border Wall

Rep. Chip Roy Said He Was Willing To Hold The Debt Ceiling Hostage And Risk A Government Shutdown Over Construction Of A Wall On The U.S. Southern Border. “Key GOP lawmakers are signaling they want border policies in the mix as congressional leadership and the White House try to negotiate a debt ceiling deal, the day after Republicans passed a sweeping border and immigration bill. It was a GOP wishlist that included restarting construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and placing new restrictions on asylum seekers. ‘We passed the bill that I think does the job. … And by the way, I think this is now a central part of any debt ceiling or spending debate for the remainder of the year,’ Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said in an interview on Friday. ‘Every day that the President continues to dilly dally, in my mind, the price goes up, not down. … You want a debt ceiling increase? You want to go fund the operations of government? Then fix the damn border, Mr. President,’ Roy added.” [Politico, 5/12/23]

HOUSE REPUBLICANS TALK TOUGH ABOUT THE BORDER, BUT VOTE AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT FUNDS BORDER SECURITY

Every Republican Member Of The House Oversight Subcommittee On National Security, The Border, And Foreign Affairs Voted Against Increasing Border Patrol Funding By 17 Percent For FY 2023

The FY 2023 Appropriations Bill Included A 17 Percent Increase For Border Patrol, Including Funding For 300 New Border Patrol Agents, And A 12 Percent Funding Increase For Customs And Border Protection. “Border security: Border Patrol is in line for a whopping 17% funding boost, which includes the funding for 300 new Border Patrol agents that the Biden administration had repeatedly stressed as necessary to handle the record-high numbers of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. If Border Patrol is unable to meet the hiring goal, it can use the funds on other efforts to boost morale. Customs and Border Protection would see its regular funding increase by 12%, though it would see a separate, one-time appropriation of $1.6 billion to address the uptick at the border.” [Government Executive, 12/20/22]

Every Republican Member Of The House Homeland Security Subcommittee On Border Security And Enforcement, Who Was In Office At The Time, Voted Against Increasing Funding For Border Patrol

Rep. Clay Higgins Voted Against The FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. According to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Clay Higgins voted “nay” on H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. [U.S. House Floor, H.R. 2617, Vote 549, 12/23/22]
Rep. Michael Guest Voted Against The FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. According to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Michael Guest voted “nay” on H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. [U.S. House Floor, H.R. 2617, Vote 549, 12/23/22]
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Voted Against The FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. According to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene voted “nay” on H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. [U.S. House Floor, H.R. 2617, Vote 549, 12/23/22]
Rep. Tony Gonzales Voted Against The FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. According to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Tony Gonzales voted “nay” on H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. [U.S. House Floor, H.R. 2617, Vote 549, 12/23/22]

Every Republican Member Of The Of The House Oversight Subcommittee On National Security, The Border, And Foreign Affairs Voted Against Providing Billions To Improve Border Patrol Infrastructure

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Provided $430 Million To Help Customs And Border Protection Build And Modernize Land Ports Of Entry And For Equipment And Fixtures For Operations, As Well At $3 Billion For Investments In Border Patrol Stations And Land Ports Of Entry. “The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021, delivers historic investments in the Nation’s crumbling infrastructure and, in doing so, creates millions of jobs and provides much-needed relief to disadvantaged communities across the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will receive significant funds to advance its work on behalf of the American people. The bipartisan bill delivers almost $8 billion to DHS, including: $430 million to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the construction and modernization of land ports of entry and equipment and fixtures for operations. […] In addition, the General Services Administration will receive more than $3 billion for critical investments in CBP’s Border Patrol stations and land ports of entry.” [U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Press Release, 11/15/21]

Every Republican Member Of The House Homeland Security Subcommittee On Border Security And Enforcement, Who Was In Office At The Time, Voted Against Increasing Funding For Border Patrol

Rep. Clay Higgins Voted Against The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act. According to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Clay Higgins voted “nay” on H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. [U.S. House Floor, H.R. 3684, Vote 369, 11/5/21]
Rep. Michael Guest Voted Against The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act. According to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Michael Guest voted “nay” on H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. [U.S. House Floor, H.R. 3684, Vote 369, 11/5/21]
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Voted Against The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act. According to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene voted “nay” on H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. [U.S. House Floor, H.R. 3684, Vote 369, 11/5/21]
Rep. Tony Gonzales Voted Against The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act. According to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Tony Gonzales voted “nay” on H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. [U.S. House Floor, H.R. 3684, Vote 369, 11/5/21]