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]
Republicans Fear-monger About Immigration So They Can Use It As A Campaign Talking Point
NATIONAL REPUBLICANS USED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO CREATE FAKE IMAGES OF MIGRANTS AT THE BORDER TO FEAR-MONGER 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 REPUBLICANS FUNDRAISED OFF THE FENTANYL CRISIS AND ACCUSING BIDEN OF PUSHING AN “OPEN BORDER AGENDA”
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]
House Republicans Praised Cruel Political Stunts That Took Advantage Of Vulnerable Migrants
HOUSE REPUBLICANS PRAISED FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS AND TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT FOR USING VULNERABLE MIGRANTS IN POLITICAL STUNTS
Rep. Andy Biggs Tweeted In Support Of Migrants Being Flown To Martha’s Vineyard And The U.S. Naval Observatory. “The pictures are hard to look at. Images of bewildered looking men and women and children, even, shipped off to posh Martha’s Vineyard and dropped off outside the gates of the U.S. Naval Observatory that is home to Vice President Kamala Harris. […] The stunt was all the rage on Fox News and the subject of high fives among Republicans from sea to shining sea. Red-state governors, sticking it to those liberal elitists. ‘If they refuse to go to the border, bring the border to them,’ Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs tweeted.” [Arizona Central, 9/15/22]
- Andy Biggs Tweeted “Busing” Of Migrants “Had To Happen” As Country Faces “An Invasion.” On Biggs’ Twitter he posted: “Busing illegal aliens to Barack Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard and Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington had to happen. Democrat leaders must step down from their ivory towers and get with reality. Our nation is facing an invasion and it requires acknowledgment and action.” [Twitter, Andy Biggs, 9/15/22]
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Called Ron DeSantis’ Migrant Flights “Funny.” “The far-right Georgia Republican’s remarks to a local GOP group were published Thursday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. GOP Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida have been applauded by their conservative bases for relocating migrants to liberal enclaves, while critics denounced their efforts as cruel stunts carried out for political gain. Greene said she opposed the transportation of migrants across the country for other reasons, but said that the situation was still ‘funny.’” [Newsweek, 10/27/22]
- Marjorie Taylor Greene Said Migrant Drop Offs Made “Great Headlines.” ‘“Now, I know it makes great headlines on Fox News, and we laugh about it and it’s funny when we see busloads get dropped off, like in Martha’s Vineyard, we’re, like, ‘Ha ha ha.’ You know?’ Greene said at the Whitfield County Republican Party headquarters in rural northwest Georgia. ‘Or we see them dropped off in front of Kamala Harris’ house, and we’re like, ‘Oh, the border czar, should she care now.’” [Newsweek, 10/27/22]
Rep. Byron Donalds Said He Was Glad Ron DeSantis Flew Migrants To Martha’s Vineyard To Show How “Simple” Democrats Are. In a Fox News Interview Donalds said, “No, hypocrisy has been happening the whole time whether it was New York or D.C. That hypocrisy has been there. I think what’s made it ten times more interesting is that Martha’s Vineyard is literally the Democrats’ elite enclave. That’s like their place. And so to see how even the people who their policies, that come into this country, that they don’t want them there, that they’re quick to ship them off, as soon as they possibly can, of course it’s a hypocrisy, Guess what? I’m glad Ron DeSantis did it because now people are starting to see that the Democrats are very very simple actually. ‘They say all the nice things. They say all the things that make you feel good. But in the back door, when the world is shut off from you, they don’t want to deal with the consequences of their policy. It’s that simple.”’ [Fox News, 9/21/22]
Rep. Chip Roy Called Flying Migrants To Martha’s Vineyard A “Good Move” After Seeing The Nation’s Reaction. “People talk about ‘Oh, Gov. Abbott and Gov. DeSantis, they’re using humans as political pawns by sending people to D.C. and New York and Martha’s Vineyard,’” the Republican told attendees at the luncheon. “And I gotta be honest, I kind of thought those things were a little gimmicky when it first occurred. But I saw the reaction to it and I was like, it’s a good move, because it woke up the country to what we’re experiencing every day in Texas,” said Roy, who faces Democrat Claudia Andreana Zapata in the Nov. 8 general in his bid for a third term.” [San Antonio Report, 10/7/22]
REP. WESLEY HUNT EVEN FUNDRAISED OFF OF THE STUNTS
In A Fundraising Email About Ron DeSantis’ Migrant Flights, Rep. Wesley Hunt Said It Was Time “Radical Democrats” Face “Consequences.” “For months, top Republicans like Texas Governor Greg Abbot and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have been shipping captured border crossers, many of them asylum seekers, to more liberal locations. The purpose seems to be to prove that Democrats also secretly fear immigrants and are hypocritically making Republicans deal with the problem. ‘So-called ‘Border Czar Kamala Harris had the gall to tell Texans like myself – and the nation – that the border was completely secure,” said Texas congressional candidate Wesley Hunt in a fundraising email Tuesday morning. ‘So, what did we do down here in Texas? We shipped the border up to her front door in Washington. It’s time these radical Democrats faced the consequences of their own disastrous agenda.’” [Reform Austin, 9/20/22]
Despite Fear-mongering About The Border, House Republicans Want To Defund The Department Of Homeland Security
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]
WHILE THE WHITE HOUSE REQUESTED INCREASED FUNDING FOR BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
March 2023: The White House Announced A Budget Request For Nearly $25 Billion For U.S. Customs And Border Protection (CBP) And Immigration And Customs Enforcement (ICE) – An Increase Of Almost $800 Million Over The 2023 Enacted Level. “Strengthening border security and providing safe, lawful pathways for migration remain top priorities for the Administration. The Budget includes nearly $25 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an increase of almost $800 million over the 2023 enacted level when controlling for border management amounts.” [White House, Press Release, 3/9/23]
- The Budget Request Included Hiring Additional Border Patrol Agents And Processing Assistants, $535 Million For Border Security Technology At And Between Ports Of Entry, And $40 Million To Combat Fentanyl Trafficking And Transnational Criminal Organizations. “The Budget includes funds for CBP to hire an additional 350 Border Patrol Agents, $535 million for border security technology at and between ports of entry, $40 million to combat fentanyl trafficking and disrupt transnational criminal organizations, and funds to hire an additional 460 processing assistants at CBP and ICE.” [White House, Press Release, 3/9/23]