Glenn Grothman: “Just prior to coming to Washington this week, I spent a couple of days down at the Mexican border to see for myself…”

“Just prior to coming to Washington this week, I spent a couple of days down at the Mexican border to see for myself exactly what was going on down there. I visited the El Paso sector. I would like to thank the Border Patrol, ICE, the ranchers, and local law enforcement for being so helpful and informative to the nine Congressmen who were in the El Paso sector over the weekend. Our goal was to see over the last few months how things have changed, and in the last 5 months, things have changed dramatically at the border. For one thing, illegal apprehensions are way up. In March, we had 172,000 illegal apprehensions, and that doesn't include, of course, the people who snuck across without being apprehended. This time last year, in March, there were 34,000 illegal apprehensions. What could cause an increase from 34,000 to 172,000? It was painful not only to hear about the numbers but to see row after row of young children on mats just waiting for something to happen. Now, what has happened? What happened at the border to get a fivefold increase in 1 year, as well as seeing all these children in almost inhumane conditions waiting to be taken away to somebody who they hope will take care of them? First of all, this administration got rid of the migrant protection protocol. Donald Trump, I am sure in very difficult negotiations, had Mexico agree to hold people south of the border pending hearings for asylum. That was a huge benefit.…”