When members of the Democratic caucus toured detention facilities along the southern border, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) made numerous claims that Border Patrol agents mistreat detainees. Specifically, she said women have been forced to drink toilet water.
The mainstream media has continually ran with the notion that detainees are not properly fed or clothed, despite Border Patrol agents continually saying that wasn't the truth. Chief of the Border Patrol’s law enforcement operation, Brian Hastings, even testified before Congress, saying that facilities had plenty of consumables, like soap and other basic necessities. Hastings said the storage rooms “frankly looks like Costco."
Roy Villareal, the Chief Patrol Agent of the Tucson, Arizona Sector, decided to record a video to, once again, debunk Ocasio-Cortez's claims.
"My goal today is to dispel some of the misinformation that's out there in regards to our detention facilities," Villareal said. He then takes the camera to the supply room, where she shows plenty of clothing, broken up by age, sex and size, as well as feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby wipes.
"This is a supply room that is typical of every one of the stations in the Tucson Sector," he explained.
He then takes the viewer to a detention cell, where a supply cart is located. The cart has bins filled with baby formula, various kinds of crackers and snacks and mylar blankets. Villareal made a point to show disposable toothbrushes that are available to detainees.
"There's a lot of misinformation about allowing people to brush their teeth. This is a toothbrush that's preloaded with toothpaste. It's provided to everyone and readily available should they want more than one," he explained.
Villareal then takes the viewer to a cell, where he shows a two-in-one toilet and faucet.
"Aliens are not forced to drink out of a toilet," he said, referencing AOC's previous claim. "They have many options. There's fresh water that's provided on a regular basis in a water cooler and there's also water available in a combination toilet and sink."
Villareal presses the faucet, shows the sign saying the water is potable and clean, fills his cup up and drinks it.
"There's nothing wrong with this water," he said before taking a drink.
Here is a look at the inside of a #BorderPatrol processing center with Chief Patrol Agent of #TucsonSector Roy Villareal @CBP pic.twitter.com/vu1dyV72Uz
— CBP Arizona (@CBPArizona) July 4, 2019
Naturally, Ocasio-Cortez responded to the video by doubling down.
CBP is trying to refute the toilet drinking story by saying their toilets have sinks.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 4, 2019
The sink in the cell we visited wasn’t functional. Guards told these women,Cuban refugees ????, they could drink out of the bowl.
This account has been corroborated by other members of Congress. https://t.co/VT99UGZ6Ex
They're not "saying" their toilets have sinks. Their toilets literally do have sinks. They're the same type of two-in-one toilet and sink combs that are used in prisons and jails throughout the country.
Why is it so hard for people like AOC to believe that it is possible for Border Patrol agents to be humane? Because then Democrats would have to do something about our broken immigration system. They would have to take a look at what drives illegal immigration. And they'd have to face it head on.