House Dems to visit southern border in California

A group of House Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Bennie Thompson, will be visiting a portion of the southern border on Friday to gain firsthand insight into the Trump administration’s border policies. The delegation, which includes Reps. Lou Correa, Sara Jacobs, Delia Ramirez, LaMonica McIver, Nellie Pou, and Tim Kennedy, will be visiting the U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector.

San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, who has been an advocate for increased border security, criticized the timing of the visit, questioning the need for it now that border crossings have reportedly decreased by 95% since the new administration took office.

Since President Trump’s return to the White House on Jan. 20, the administration has deported over 100,000 illegal migrants, according to a report from the New York Post. This aggressive approach to immigration enforcement has been met with support from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, who believe that the president is fulfilling his campaign promises.

President Trump’s second term has been marked by a continuation of his hard-line stance on immigration, including the declaration of a national emergency at the southern border on his first day back in office. This approach has been characterized by executive orders and a focus on enforcing existing laws to curb illegal crossings.

The delegation’s visit to the border comes at a time of heightened focus on immigration issues, with both Democrats and Republicans grappling with how best to address the complex challenges posed by immigration flows. As the lawmakers prepare to conduct their oversight, their observations and findings will likely inform ongoing debates and policy discussions surrounding immigration reform.

Overall, the visit by the House Democratic lawmakers serves as a key opportunity to engage directly with border security issues and gain a deeper understanding of the current situation at the southern border. By witnessing the realities on the ground, the delegation hopes to contribute to informed decision-making and policy development in the realm of immigration enforcement.