HOUSTON, Texas–Despite the border crisis that involves more than 1,000 illegal immigrants entering the country each day, Texas Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee apparently believes the U.S.-Mexico border is “under control.”
On MSNBC she recently said, “I disagree it is in devastating condition. I think with now 21,000 border patrol agents it is under control.”
She added that Border Patrol agents told her that “they are able to do their job, even though they had been called into service to change diapers and make formula.”
Indeed, instead of securing the border many Border Patrol agents are currently in federal housing facilities caring for the thousands of unaccompanied minors that have illegally entered the U.S. since October 2013. Many critics argue that because of this, the U.S.-Mexico border is more insecure now than ever before.
In June, Shawn Moran, Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC), told Breitbart Texas Managing Director Brandon Darby, “Many of the agents are spending their time preparing meals for the children instead of securing the border. The administration needs to close this loophole in immigration policy so that the incentive for these kids to come goes away. We are simply overwhelmed and something is wrong when Border Patrol agents are buying diapers from their own personal salaries.”
Jackson Lee has made repeated attempts to downplay the border crisis; she often uses emotional appeals to do so. In early July at a House Homeland Security Committee field hearing she said, “This is not a national security crisis, this is a humanitarian crisis. We need to continue to use the word ‘humanitarian.’ These children have been forcibly misplaced.”
It is unclear how Jackson Lee recently came to the conclusion that the border is “under control.” The border crisis at hand presents public health threats, is draining federal resources, and is predicted to only get worse.
Follow Kristin Tate @KristinBTate.
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