Former President Donald Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, has unveiled what she calls a “smoking gun” regarding her uncle’s approach to tackling the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, as reported by Newsweek on Saturday, April 13, 2024.
The immigration issue has taken center stage leading up to the 2024 presidential election. President Joe Biden’s border policies have come under intense scrutiny, especially in contrast to Trump’s advocacy for tougher measures, including what he claims to be the largest domestic deportation operation in U.S. history.
Criticism has been leveled at Biden from both ends of the political spectrum over his handling of the border situation, as the nation witnesses a surge in migrant border crossings.
Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveals a significant uptick in encounters at the southern border, soaring from approximately 1.7 million in 2021 to over 2.4 million during the 2023 fiscal year.
Republicans lay the blame for the surge squarely on Biden’s border policies, arguing that they serve as an incentive for illegal immigration. However, experts point to a myriad of factors, including political and financial instability in certain Central American countries, as driving forces behind migration to the U.S.
Mary Trump took to social media to highlight a video featuring Senator Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican, discussing the former president’s stance on the southern border prior to the vote for a bipartisan border security bill, which was ultimately rejected by the Senate.
In the video, Romney expressed his dismay, stating, “I think the border is a very important issue for Donald Trump, and the fact that he would communicate to Republican senators and Congress people that he doesn’t want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is really appalling.”
Reacting to Romney’s comments, Mary Trump voiced her frustration on social media, stating, “SMOKING GUN: Mitt Romney revealed Donald is actively telling Republican Senators and members of Congress to vote against Border legislation to make Biden look bad. It’s so infuriating Republican voters don’t see this.”
During a recent appearance at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump, accompanied by House Speaker Mike Johnson, stressed the importance of a unified effort to tackle illegal immigration and ensure election integrity.
Trump lambasted the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border, calling for immediate action: “He should close the border immediately. He needs no legislation. He doesn’t need this gentleman,” referring to Johnson.
Echoing Trump’s sentiments, House Speaker Mike Johnson accused the Biden administration of deliberately engineering a crisis at the border and commended Trump’s policies, including the Remain in Mexico policy.
Trump’s insistence on securing a “perfect” border deal before the general election has sparked speculation about Republican motives and their potential to hinder Biden from securing a victory by endorsing a border bill into law.
Despite Trump’s assertions, Johnson dismissed suggestions that House Republicans would sabotage a potential deal to keep the issue unresolved for political gain.
The proposed $118 billion bipartisan border security bill aimed to address key concerns at the southern border, such as increasing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention capacity and allocating funds for immigration enforcement.
However, the bill faced staunch opposition from conservative hardliners in the Senate, ultimately leading to its rejection.
Following the bill’s failure, Biden expressed disappointment, attributing the outcome to partisan politics and placing blame on Trump.
The ongoing immigration policy debate underscores the deep-seated divisions within American politics, with both sides grappling for solutions while leveraging the issue for political advantage.
