Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) testified at Friday's House Oversight Committee hearing on the border crisis thanks in part to ranking member Jim Jordan's persistence. Jordan sent a letter to Chairman Elijah Cummings on Thursday pointing out how unfair it was that four Democrats were invited to speak on the matter, but no Republicans. Roy, he said, would be a perfect witness because he represents a border state.
When it came time to speak, Roy did not hold back. He upended Democrats' narrative that border patrol officers are forcing migrants to live in unsanitary and inhumane conditions. He also chastised his colleagues for shirking their duties.
The #GOP far too often wants to stand at the Rio Grande with a "no trespassing sign," while winking at immigrants with a "help wanted" sign in the other hand. #Democrats want to stand in front of chain link fences in an empty parking lot for clicks, Twitter followers, + cameras pic.twitter.com/0HFVIBgUfA
— Rep. Chip Roy (@RepChipRoy) July 12, 2019
Contrary to what Democrats have told the American public about the border patrol, Roy said his chief of staff went down to the Clint border facility that's been in the news lately and he didn't see migrants treated as animals. What he witnessed was the border patrol "trying to do its job." The border officials made sure that migrants have water containers "right outside the very cells," as well as food, and other necessary items.
Border agents are "exhausted" by the media misinformation, Roy continued. Every day their kids come home to news reports depicting mom and dad as murderers, and as running gas chambers.
Both parties are to blame, Roy said. The GOP is guilty of telling illegal immigrants no trespassing, while winking at immigrants with a "help wanted" sign. The Democrats, on the other hand, are "putting on a show in front of fences" and "making up hyperbole for clicks."
If Congress wants to make a change, they should look inwards, Roy continued.
"This body has failed to secure the border and created the very magnet that is causing these migrants to come through and be abused by cartels while this body cowardly sits in the corner doing nothing about it."
What they can start doing, he said, is "take out the cartels and fix our asylum laws," shedding light on some underreported stories about gangs.
Drug cartels are abusing migrant children, not @CBP or the administration. Congress is allowing it to happen by our continued refusal to address the crisis. https://t.co/g9HdIBzZrA pic.twitter.com/7DgURIttoq
— Rep. Chip Roy (@RepChipRoy) July 12, 2019
Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) testified today that there is a "manufactured crisis."
.@AOC calls the border situation a "manufactured crisis" by Trump: "When these women tell me that they were put into a cell and that their sink was not working ... and they were told to drink out of a toilet bowl I believe them. I believe these women." pic.twitter.com/T9Jteom4Nz
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 12, 2019