Republican Senator Ted Cruz was in Brownsville, Texas, Thursday night to watch the border crisis for itself, hours before Title 42 restrictions expire.
Cruz appeared enraged when he was surrounded by members of the Border Patrol and Texas National Guard, accusing the Biden administration of “deliberately” creating the situation.
“We are witnessing an absolute mockery on our southern border,” Cruz began in a four-minute diatribe.
On Monday, we detained more than 10,000 people at the border – the highest level in history. On Tuesday, we detained more than 10,000 people at the border, again the highest level in history. Right now, where we are now, more than 22,000 people camped just south of the border, getting ready to cross,” Cruz explained.
“In this location alone, we have had more than 35,000 Venezuelans cross illegally in less than a month, right here,” he explained.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz visited Brownsville, Texas, Thursday night to observe the border crisis just hours before Title 42 restrictions expired
Cruz thanked Border Patrol and Troopers stationed along the border for their help, calling them “heroes”
‘Every day they meet 90 to 100 Chinese here. For those who don’t have a globe nearby, China is not directly south of the United States.
“They’re being smuggled in by Mexican drug cartels and I have to say I’m angry because this is intentional.”
The clock is ticking on the expiration of Title 42, the policy that allows the US Border Guard to quickly deport illegal border crossings, and before new rules come into effect, but this group of migrants decided they couldn’t wait any longer.
According to the White House, after the end of Title 42, the US will begin enforcing another policy that has been on the books for a long time, called Title 8.
Under this rule, any migrant who illegally enters the US and applies for asylum, without first applying for asylum in another country, will be deported and possibly banned from the US for 5 years.
Cruz characterized the situation at the border as “an invasion” and accused the Biden administration of wanting to increase numbers, while praising Border Patrol
Cruz characterized the situation at the border as an invasion and accused the Biden administration of wanting the numbers to increase
Cruz expressed anger, accusing the Biden administration of deliberately creating the situation, describing it as a mockery
Cruz spoke to members of the US Border Patrol and praised their efforts
A US official reported that daily encounters reached 10,000 on Tuesday – nearly twice the March level and only slightly below the 11,000 figure that authorities say is the upper limit of what they expect after Title 42 ends.
The Border Patrol’s detention of about 10,000 migrants on Tuesday made for one of the agency’s busiest days ever.
“This is a decision made by President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and congressional Democrats to open the border to what is nothing short of invasion,” continued Cruz, who has been a staunch critic of the Biden administration.
“Ask yourself, why isn’t President Biden here? Why isn’t Kamala here? Why isn’t Elizabeth Warren here? Why isn’t AOC buried here with her head in her hands? Because they don’t give a damn about the dead bodies!’ Cruz fought.
“Six weeks ago I asked Secretary of State Mayorkas how many migrants have died trying to cross illegally in the past year. He said ‘I don’t know’. The number is 853, but he can’t worry about that,” Cruz continued.
“We are witnessing modern day slavery and, oddly enough, the Biden administration has decided they want more.
In February, Cruz said he believed Mayorkas was the “biggest human trafficker in the world.” And last October, Cruz said his leadership on the southern border was “gross dereliction of duty” and “reasons for impeachment.”
On Thursday evening, Cruz predicted that the situation would worsen further
President Joe Biden stayed in Washington DC on Thursday to promote conservation
Migrants cross the banks of the Rio Grande River into the US as seen from Matamoros, Tamaulupas State, Mexico
Hundreds of migrants, mostly from Venezuela, continue to arrive on foot at the US-Mexico border, near El Paso, Texas
Migrants wait to try to reach the US via the Rio Grande River as seen from Matamoros, Tamaulipas state, Mexico on Thursday
On Thursday evening, Cruz predicted that the situation would worsen further.
“Title 42 ends today and you know what happens tomorrow? Those numbers are going up. This is an invasion and they want the numbers to go up.
The men and women of the Border Patrol are heroes. They are extraordinary heroes. We’re behind you!’
Cruz then scoffed at the new rules coming into effect that require migrants seeking asylum in the US to apply using an app.
Currently, 740 people per day are admitted through the CBP One app, with numbers rising to 1,000 per day.
“The Biden administration is really proud now that they have apps on their phones. They can fill out an application in two minutes. This is Amazon’s version of illegal immigration. They’re going to make it fast and deliver them all over the country,” Cruz joked.
“We have seen 6 1/2 million people cross illegally since Joe Biden became president and the government wants 6 1/2 million to be 10 million, 12 million 15 million, 20 million. And the body bags piling up, they don’t have to worry about that.
“I can tell you that the great state of Texas is on the front lines – the volume is overwhelming – and that needs to stop.”