U.S. Vice President JD Vance, along with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, made a visit to the Texas-Mexico border on Wednesday. The trio’s visit to the key crossing point in Eagle Pass, Texas, comes after President Donald Trump’s recent address to Congress, where he emphasized his hard-line stance on immigration and promised swift action to remove undocumented immigrants from the country.
During his visit, Vance echoed Trump’s sentiments and assured Americans that there are no plans to invade Mexico. He also highlighted Trump’s decision to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, which allows for the deployment of the full resources of the United States military to enhance border enforcement.
Gabbard, who accompanied Vance on the trip, emphasized that their objective is to keep the American people safe. This sentiment was echoed by Hegseth, who believes that border security is national security. He also clarified that the role of troops at the border is to support and enhance the work of Border Patrol, as they are legally prohibited from performing civilian law enforcement actions.
While Vance and his team touted the current decrease in border crossings, immigration advocates caution that this may be misleading. They also criticize Trump’s enforcement-based strategy, stating that it does not address the complexities of global migration and the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
Vanessa Cardenas, executive director of America’s Voice, told VOA via email, “The ebb and flow of border numbers – under Trump and under [former President Joe] Biden – demonstrate why global migration is complicated, and why we need a full immigration overhaul from Congress to equip America for 21st century migration and to align with our interests and values, not the enforcement-only agenda of this administration.”
Cardenas also points out that the Trump administration’s immigration policies do not make Americans safer or more secure, and they do not align with our economic interests or common sense. Instead, they come at a high cost for all Americans and move us further away from real solutions.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Representative James Comer, the Republican leader of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, questioned four big-city mayors on their policies that limit law enforcement’s cooperation with immigration enforcement. Comer believes that sanctuary cities make us all less safe and are a public safety nightmare.
“We cannot let pro-criminal alien policies in obstructionist sanctuary cities continue to endanger American communities and the safety of federal immigration enforcement officers,” Comer said.
However, the mayor of Colorado’s most populous city, Mike Johnston, pushed back at lawmakers, stating that Americans expect more than just finger-pointing. He urged Congress to put aside their ideological differences and work towards finding solutions to the immigration crisis.
“In his address to Congress, Trump asked the legislative body for more funding for immigration enforcement, even as they stare down a mid-March budget resolution,” Johnston said. “Americans expect us to do more than point fingers. They expect us to solve problems. So, if Denver can find a way to put aside our ideological differences long enough to manage a crisis we didn’t choose or create, it seems only fair to ask that the body that is actually charged with solving this national problem, this Congress, can finally commit to do the same.”
In conclusion, Vice President Vance’s visit to the Texas-Mexico border highlights the Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and keeping Americans safe. While there may be differing opinions on the best approach to immigration, it is clear that action needs to be taken to address this complex issue. It is now up to Congress to work together and find a solution that aligns with our values and interests as a nation.
