In a passionate response to the ongoing surge of illegal immigrants at the southern border, Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) defended President Joe Biden and criticized the immigration policies of former President Donald Trump. Speaking on MSNBC’s Velshi on Saturday, Crockett, who represents the border state of Texas, pushed back against criticisms directed at Biden and argued that Trump’s policies were more detrimental.
Crockett expressed her dissatisfaction with the conditions at border facilities, describing them as overcrowded and unsanitary, especially for unaccompanied minors. Having personally visited some of these facilities, she condemned what she termed as “inhumane” treatment of migrants.
Despite the surge in border crossings, Crockett refused to place blame solely on Biden. She deflected attention to Trump’s immigration policies, particularly his decision to reverse key measures such as the Remain in Mexico program and asylum cooperation agreements with Central American countries.
“I do want to point out that Donald Trump was the one who was actually pushing forward with a Muslim ban,” Crockett stated emphatically. “For those that believe they have issues with President Biden, I’m just saying you should have a few more issues with the person that literally wants to ban Muslims in this country.”
Crockett referenced Trump’s executive order in 2017, which temporarily banned travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries. She highlighted Trump’s intent to reinstate the “Muslim ban” and underscored the necessity of addressing such concerns.
Accusing Trump of separating families at the border and placing children in cages, Crockett labeled these practices as “unacceptable” and “un-American.” In contrast, she commended Biden’s efforts to reunite families and provide humanitarian aid to migrants.
Expressing support for Biden’s immigration reform bill, Crockett advocated for a comprehensive approach. The bill, which proposes a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, increased border security, and addresses root causes of migration from Central America, aims to fix what Crockett calls a “broken” immigration system.
Crockett urged her Republican colleagues to collaborate with Democrats to pass the bill, emphasizing its “common sense” and “bipartisan” nature. While open to compromise on certain aspects, she remained steadfast on the core principles of human dignity and respect.
Speaking on the broader perspective of the border crisis, Crockett called for compassion, stating, “We have to remember that these are human beings, not numbers, not statistics, not political pawns.” She framed the issue as a humanitarian one, hoping Americans would find common ground beyond partisan lines.
“We are a nation of immigrants, and we are stronger because of our diversity,” Crockett affirmed. “We have to uphold our ideals and our laws, but we also have to uphold our humanity and our compassion. That’s what makes us America.”
