Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) got into a heated debate with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and other House Republicans over border security.
Rep. Frost states that the crisis is "not a criminal issue," but rather, a "humanitarian" one. Additionally, he states that a border wall would be "a monument of fear" comparable to a "sad, decaying Soviet statue."
Rep. Frost laments that the current border situation amounts little more to "hyperbole" and "posturing." Moreover, "this is not about oversight," he adds, but rather "stoking the fears of immigrants, and those seeking asylum."
Frost then asks Chief Border Agent Gloria Chavez if border law has truly stopped being enforced, leading to what we hear on what he dismisses as "far-right media." Chavez tells Frost "no," and that "we continue to enforce policy and laws."
Next, he asks Chief John Modlin the same question. Modlin says that as a veteran working through five administrations, agents are still doing their jobs to this day.
"As a lot of y'all probably realize by now, a lot of these hearings are not really about solutions, they are about politics," Frost then says. "And for me, I believe that solutions must be rooted in facts."
The CBP officials are given a second question regarding the high numbers of fentanyl smuggled over the southern border; namely, if it is really being carried out by illegal immigrants. Chavez says she is not entirely sure, but Frost assures her that 85% of the fentanyl smuggled into the US; according to the CBP's own data; is brought in by American citizens.
From here, Frost says that the wall is effectively pointless, because "crossings haven't decreased since we spent $15 billion; once again, $15 billion with a "B;" of taxpayer money on that monument of fear."
"The wall reminds me of a sad, decaying Soviet statue," Frost concludes. "Is it a bigger failure that migrants are able to breach the wall, or find their way around it?"
As mentioned, Rep. Byron Donalds sharply rebuked Frost by demonstrating data pertaining to instances of young female migrants being raped, telling The Floridian he and other freshmen Democrats should see the border for themselves.
