From April 26, 2022 post.

Monday, U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) joined a group of House Republicans on a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The visit, led by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Cal.), was about highlighting the continuing crisis at the border and how rescinding Title 42 would exacerbate the problem.

During the press conference, Palmer talked about the human cost of open borders.

“You need to understand the human tragedy that’s taking place because we have left our borders open,” Palmer said. “People cannot live their lives because of it. Their kids cannot grow up the way children should be able to grow up because we’ve left the border open.”

The congressman cited stats about the opioid crisis that he believed was a direct result of an unsecured border.

He said the number of deaths from fentanyl “is 105,000, the highest number ever recorded, and that’s probably underreported by 15% or 20%, according to the people I’ve talked to, because so many families don’t want it on the death certificate that their love one died from an overdose.”

Palmer said that an open border made America was less safe.

“This is a national security issue,” he warned, “because they’re known terrorists who’ve been picked up. We do not know who hasn’t been picked up, and I want to remind the Democrats it’s only took 19 to carry out September 11.”

He also added a statement on Twitter about the trip, saying, “On Monday, I joined several of my colleagues to see the #BidenBorderCrisis firsthand in EaglePass, Texas. Our border is in shambles, and the brave Border Patrol agents are overwhelmed. I’m calling on the Biden Administration to do its job and protect our nation.”

Immigration

Original source can be found here.