President Joe Biden has continued to hide poor living conditions at the migrant holding facilities in the state. But Sen. Ted Cruz shared during a press conference with Republican Reps. Nancy Mace and Chip Roy that he is seeing the crisis firsthand and it is worse than imagined.
Cruz visited with Border Patrol agents in Laredo, Texas, and shared his observations of the facility, which he described as a “giant tent city.” He said it was packed to the brim with children and without regard for any COVID-19 restrictions. The Biden Administration only wants American citizens to carry around vaccination documents and follow strict COVID-19 restrictions. When it comes to illegal immigrants, the administration turns a blind eye.
According to Cruz’s report, thousands of migrants who have crossed the border and into the U.S tested positive for COVID-19. They have been packed so tightly in the facility that there’s “no room to move,” essentially making it a breeding ground for COVID-19 transmission. One Biden staffer even blocked Cruz from recording a video at the migrant facility.
Children at the Donna facility were three inches apart and sleeping side by side, with no beds, mats, or cots. Children slept on the floor wrapped in reflective emergency blankets. The Biden Administration has continued to hide these poor living conditions by not allowing the media inside to witness the disaster they’ve created.
Cruz also explained how “morale has never been lower” amongst Border Patrol Agents as they are not allowed to do their job and that it is “so maddening” that this crisis is man-made. He said it was a result of the deliberate choices made by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Some of the migrants and smugglers have even started getting aggressive towards Border Patrol Agents, with one agent being treated at a local hospital for contusions and facial lacerations. The agent was assaulted near the San Ysidro port of entry while trying to arrest the 12-15 migrants between the two border walls in the area. A smuggler had hit her with what is believed to be a 2×4.
CBP later said in a statement that it was the third assault against Border Patrol agents in the last month in that sector alone. Shots have also been fired at agents in San Diego and Texas.
“We take these threats and acts of violence seriously and will do everything we can to identify and bring to justice those who seek to harm the men and women of the Border Patrol,” said U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz.
Rep. Roy highlighted the crisis as well, stating that Texas was under siege and that the “good people of Laredo” were suffering and being deployed on the front lines of attack. Rep Mace said she was just “shocked” to see what she saw at the border. The reps planned the trip to learn more about how local officials and stakeholders were being affected by the border.
And now, Border Patrol has announced the construction of another “soft-sided migrant detention facility” in Laredo, Texas. It will be similar to the facilities constructed in Eagle Pass and Donna, Texas, and will be completed in late September. While the Laredo Sector ranks low in illegal immigration apprehensions, it lies right between the two busiest sectors – the Rio Grand and Del Rio Sectors.
The new facility will be designed to assist agencies in accommodating the surge of illegal immigrants and overcrowding issues. Border Patrol announced they will need more than 500 jobs to support the facility as they provide cell space for sleeping, personal hygiene, dining, medical screening, and recreation. It was estimated to cost taxpayers approximately $6 million monthly to operate.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently approved $1.6 billion in funding for his own border wall that would be defended by Texas National Guard. Other states are also chipping in with their own defense to protect the border. You would think the Biden Administration would be focused on protecting the border than serving those who cross through but it’s all for political purposes. It always has been. When it was Trump, it was just “people in cages.”
