MIAMI - Miami Mayor Francis Saurez underscored the importance of border security for Hispanic Americans in a recent interview with Kassie Hunt on CNN This Morning.
"I think Hispanics very much care about the border. In fact, I saw a recent poll that showed over 80% of Hispanics are worried about border security," Saurez said. "That impacts their quality of life. As a mayor, and even as we've seen Democratic mayors, have criticized the current administration's border policy and the porousness of the border policy."
Furthermore, Saurez noted over 7 million illegals had entered the country under the Biden administration since February. He also said the migrant surge was approximately more than the population of 36 states.
According to data compiled by the House Committee on Homeland Security, nationwide border encounters approached three million in FY2024. In contrast, CBP recorded around three million encounters nationwide from FY2017-2020.
Currently, nationwide border encounters have increased by 50% from FY2021. Under the Biden Administration, CBP has estimated nearly 11 million border encounters, including close to 9 million at the Southwest border.
CBP also recorded around two million "got-a-ways" since the start of FY2021, or four times the number from FY 2017-2020.
"That's something that tremendously concerns Hispanics that live in border communities. "You're talking about tens of thousands of people that have died from fentanyl overdoses, which is the equivalent of a 747 crashing every single day. That's something that concerns Hispanics living in border communities," Saurez said.
As Mayor of Miami, Saurez noted the city has had to expand its public school offering due to the migrant surge, which has strained its resources.
"I do think Hispanics care about border security. I think they care about abiding by the laws of this country. They want to have sort of an equal playing field. They want to be prosperous. And they've seen in terms of this election that this is a record versus rhetoric election," Saurez said.
Along with border security, Saurez also mentioned the appeal of Hispanics to Republicans and former President Donald Trump.
Using three examples, Saurez alluded to record low unemployment, record high home ownership, and record low poverty with Hispanics under the Trump administration. In Miami-Dade County, more Hispanics identify as Republicans over Democrats.
