staunch conservative lawmaker is holding the former president and his party responsible for the surge of migrants at the US-Mexico border, asserting that they missed an opportunity to secure the border during their tenure. As per Raw Story on Friday, January 19, 2024, Representative Chip Roy (R-TX), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, expressed criticism aimed at former President Donald Trump and former House Speaker Paul Ryan for their failure to pass a border security bill in 2018 that could have averted the current situation.
In an interview with Fox Business host Neil Cavuto on Wednesday, Roy acknowledged the shortcomings of President Trump and Republicans in 2018, stating, “I would acknowledge President Trump failed along with Republicans Paul Ryan and the guys, they failed in 2018 to actually move a border security bill to tighten this so we aren’t dealing with this crisis right now.” He pointed out that efforts to build a border wall were impeded, mentioning Trump’s signing of 12 continuing resolutions, despite his prior commitment not to do so unless funds were allocated for the wall’s completion.
Referring to the 2018-2019 government shutdown, the longest in US history, triggered by Trump’s $5 billion border wall funding demand, Roy underscored the consequences of the impasse. The shutdown, lasting 35 days, concluded with Trump reopening the government without securing funding for the wall, a move criticized by some of his loyal supporters.
Despite Trump’s campaign promise that Mexico would fund the border wall, he faced obstacles in fulfilling this pledge, resorting to attempts to redirect military budget allocations. Legal challenges and congressional opposition thwarted his efforts, resulting in the construction of approximately 450 miles of new barriers, mostly replacing existing structures.
The ongoing border crisis has emerged as a significant political challenge for President Joe Biden, who has reversed certain Trump-era policies, pledging a more compassionate and comprehensive approach to immigration. However, Biden has faced bipartisan criticism for his handling of the situation as the influx of migrants, particularly unaccompanied children, has escalated in recent months.
Representative Roy, representing a district encompassing parts of Austin and San Antonio, expressed his concern about the repercussions of the border crisis on his constituents and the nation. “We’ve got a humanitarian crisis, we’ve got a national security crisis, we’ve got a health crisis, we’ve got an economic crisis,” he emphasized. “We’ve got to secure the border. It’s that simple.”
