Democrats BOYCOTT border trip: 15 members to skip hearing on immigration crisis they say Republicans will ‘politicize’, days after thousands stormed the El Paso bridge and clashed with the Mexican military
- Democrats say they won’t attend House Homeland Security Committee hearing
- Rep. Bennie Thompson said Republicans planned to ‘politicize’ the border meeting
- Chairman Mark Green said Democrats were not serious about solving the crisis
Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee decided not to travel to the southern border for a hearing on the immigration crisis, accusing their Republican counterparts of planning to politicize the issue.
Chairman Mark Green announced the field hearing last week, saying Democrats had withdrawn even after inviting their own witness.
He said it showed they were not serious about how to deal with problems at the border.
It comes shortly after a large group of people in Mexico marched on Sunday at a border entry point in El Paso, Texas, forcing authorities to build a barricade.
And it follows months of anger that President Joe Biden’s administration has failed to address the growing number of people trying to cross into the country.
“After careful consideration, the Democrats on the committee have decided not to participate in the Republican field hearing this week,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson (left). Chairman Mark Green responded by saying that the Democrats were not serious about addressing the border issue.
Hundreds of migrants stormed the Paso del Norte, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico with the intention of crossing into El Paso,
“After careful consideration, the Democrats on the committee have decided not to participate in the Republican field hearing this week,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson, who leads the 15 Democrats on the committee.
“Unfortunately, it has become clear that the Republicans planned to politicize this event from the start, breaking with the committee’s proud history of bipartisanship.
“Instead of a fact-finding mission to develop better immigration and border security policies, Republicans are traveling to the border to attack the administration and try to score political points with their extreme rhetoric, despite having voted against the resources needed by border personnel.
“Democrats on the committee are in regular contact with department leaders and stakeholders on the ground and will be making substantial visits to the border, including this week.”
It means the Republicans will have the committee to themselves when they gather in the Rio Grande Valley to hear from the top US Border Patrol official.
Chairman Mark Green said it was evidence that Democrats were not interested in examining issues at the border.
“It is deeply disappointing that minority committee members have chosen to walk out of this week’s full committee field hearing in Texas, only after they invited and confirmed a minority witness for one of the panels,” he said.
“The only message their absence sends is that they are not interested in coming down to the table to discuss the devastation this border crisis is having on Americans and their communities across the country.”
The scene at the El Paso border crossing on Sunday afternoon
On Sunday, heavily armed Mexican military and US Customs and Border Protection officers fanned out to the El Paso border after approximately 1,000 people tried to force their way through a checkpoint.
Video shared by foxnews reporter Bill Melugin showed the ‘bilateral show of force’ at the border, which included armed security forces in riot gear, barbed wire, concrete blocks and chain-link fencing on the Paso Del Norte bridge.
It was shared hours after different images showed hordes of migrants passing in front of a line of Mexican officials at the border between Juárez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas.
The photos captured the moment the group reached the center of the bridge, where they were later blocked by CBP officers, tear gas and barricades.
In response, CBP officers said they “implemented port tightening measures” by temporarily halting northbound traffic at the Paso Del Norte Bridge.