The effects of President Biden's open border policy have long been a concern among Americans. Human and drug trafficking, especially fentanyl, claim and destroy many lives. Known or suspected terrorists have been apprehended at the border.
On Wednesday, Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) spoke with AM Tampa Bay about this crisis and how to solve it.
Host Jack Harris begins by pointing out the fact that the primary goal of the US military is to protect the country, yet troops are deployed elsewhere, with none at our own border. Bilirakis agrees, saying that "3 million have entered since Biden's been in office, and then 66, 66 illegals on the terrorist watch list," the latter fact Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) called attention to in an August tweet.
"More importantly, and you're right about the military," Bilirakis continues, "that needs to be done, this is a national emergency, what's happening is kids are dying, you know, with this fentanyl." Bilirakis points out that the opioid is frequently laced with common recreational drugs, which causes deaths. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL-19) similarly spoke with Greta van Susteren on Fox News' The Record about the impact of fentanyl trafficking over the border and the silence of Democrats on it.
Finally, Bilirakis and Harris pivot to legal versus illegal immigration. Harris provides a brief anecdote on him aiding 250 immigrants earn their citizenship, and Bilirakis recalls his grandparents. "We're not trying to stop people from coming in," Harris says, "we're just trying to make them earn citizenship."
Bilirakis agrees, speaking of his discussions with immigrants, many of whom are Hispanic and Latino. "They say stop the illegal immigration. It's not fair, it's not fair, we did it the right way, we spent thousands of dollars, we learned the language, we took the test, it took a long time, and it's not right these people to come over."
A poll conducted in May by Convention of States Action and the Trafalgar Group echo this sentiment, as 65.2% of Hispanic and Latino respondents said the border should be closed to deal with the crisis.
