House Republicans visiting Texas border describe ‘anguish’ of agents dealing with mass crossings

A bunch of Republican Home members traveled to the Texas-Mexico border and detailed the “emotional anguish” Border Patrol brokers incur because of the rampant human trafficking and drug smuggling, whereas urging Democrats and President Biden to take motion earlier than Title 42 ends on Could 23.

The group, led by Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., toured the border Monday with brokers who he mentioned are “pushed to their limits.” They pleaded to Biden and different Home Democrats to increase Title 42, a public well being order set to run out in 30 days that has been used since March 2020 to shortly expel a majority of migrants on the border because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We welcome and wish to ask the Democrats to hitch us,” the Republican chief urged. The Republicans are pushing for his or her Democratic colleagues to signal a discharge petition to deliver a invoice to the ground to power a vote on sustaining Title 42, which requires the help of 218, or the bulk, of Home members.

PHOTOS RELEASED OF TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIER WHO WENT MISSING WHILE TRYING TO SAVE DROWNING MIGRANTS 

“We simply want a handful of Democrats to hitch to deliver the invoice up for a vote. So should you consider Title 42 shouldn’t be lifted, don’t say it in a press launch, say it in an motion that may make a distinction,” mentioned McCarthy.

The journey by the lawmakers coincided with the current demise of a Texas nationwide guard specialist, who drowned whereas attempting to save lots of the lives of migrants making the trek from Mexico.

Texas Military Nationwide Guard Specialist Bishop E. Evans, 22, went lacking close to Eagle Move Friday whereas trying to rescue two migrants who “seemed to be drowning whereas crossing the river from Mexico into the U.S.,” in response to the Texas Navy Division. His physique was discovered Monday. 

Evans “didn’t die in useless,” the members mentioned, praising his heroism and fast motion and providing condolences to his grandmother. 

Home GOP Convention Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., mentioned that the boat border patrol captains who led their tour of the river have been those who recovered the physique of Evans earlier within the day.

“Take into consideration the emotional turmoil, the emotional anguish that these border patrol brokers are going by means of on daily basis, along with the Nationwide Guard and their households. Our hearts break. Home Republicans are unified in securing the border and offering the help we have to our border patrol in our communities in south Texas and throughout our nation,” Stefanik mentioned.

McCarthy additionally slammed the Biden administration’s coverage to offer cell telephones to unlawful immigrants, which he witnesses on the border. The White Home confirmed final month that unlawful immigrants are being supplied with digital units, notably cell telephones, in an effort by the administration to “monitor” and “test in” with them as they await immigration courtroom proceedings.

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McCarthy was additionally requested about reporting final week by the New York Occasions, which included a leaked audio recording, during which the GOP chief mentioned he was going to advocate the previous president resign following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

A reporter requested him if he was untruthful in denying the Occasions reporting, when the tapes confirmed that he instructed his GOP colleagues that he was going to ask Trump to resign.

He responded: “The reporter by no means requested me that query. The reporter got here to me the evening earlier than he launched the ebook. And my understanding was he was saying that I requested President Trump to resign. No, I by no means did, and that is what I used to be answering.”

“For those who’re asking now, did I inform my members that have been going to ask, ask them if I instructed any of them if I mentioned that to President Trump, the reply is not any. I am glad you requested that query. However what’s extra necessary than one thing that occurred 15 months in the past on a personal dialog with about 4 different individuals is what’s occurring right here proper now.”

Trump and McCarthy stay on good phrases regardless of the newly launched tapes, in response to a supply who confirmed to Fox Information Digital that the 2 spoke on the cellphone final week. 

Home Minority Whip Steve Scalise of La., left, Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy of Calif., and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., converse with reporters after watching a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy live-streamed into the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. 
((AP Photograph/Alex Brandon))

“You requested that query on the identical day that we discovered Bishop Evans’ physique. You requested that query on the identical day in lower than a month, only a month from now, that they’ll raise Title 42,” he mentioned. “I do not suppose that is what the American persons are asking. I feel they wish to learn about what is going on to occur right here and the way we’ll safe the border,” he concluded.

McCarthy mentioned Biden ought to go to the border earlier than terminating Title 42 saying. “The president owes it to the American individuals to no less than discover the reality earlier than he decides,” he mentioned.

McCarthy and Stefanik have been joined by GOP Reps. Gary Palmer of Alabama, Tony Gonzales of Texas, Randy Weber of Texas, Michael Visitor of Mississippi, Chip Roy of Texas, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee and Blake Moore of Utah.

Fox Information’ Danielle Wallace and Invoice Melugin contributed to this report.