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McAllen, Texas – A congressional trip to South Texas on Friday led to committee members exchanging guerrilla disputes over immigration, hearing decency and whether members take seriously various issues near the southern border.
The House of Representatives Electoral Committee on Economic Inequality and Growth Justice held a meeting in McAllen, Texas, to hear about living conditions and infrastructure for residents. It was chaired by President Jim Hymes, D-Conn., And Representative Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, in whose county the hearing took place.
Representatives Brian Style, R-Wis., Jody Arrington, R-Texas, Kat Kamak, R-Fla., And Byron Donalds, R-Fla., Spoke to reporters after a tour of the Rio Grande with the Texas Department of Public Safety. (Tyler Olson / Fox News)
During the trip, members visited poor colony settlements near the border, which often lack running water and sewage, and sat down to listen to neighborhood residents.
Apart from the official part of the commission’s trip, Republicans visited the border to witness what they say is a major crisis for which Democrats are to blame.
In an image taken by a Texas Department of Homeland Security boat, a U.S. Coast Guard ship is patrolling the Rio Grande. (Tyler Olson / Fox News)
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“This is lawlessness and chaos is burning out of control,” said Jodie Arrington, R-Texas, after a tour of the Rio Grande with soldiers from the Texas Department of Public Safety. A member of the ranking committee, representative Brian Style, R-Wisc., And representatives Byron Donalds, R-Fla., And Kat Cammack, R-Fla., Also took part in the tour.
Officials showed members the heavy presence of the state of Texas and federal law enforcement along the river, as well as a section of a privately built border wall between the river and U.S. farmland.
A life jacket and a raft were left in the bushes on the American side of the Rio Grande, as seen on a river tour with the Texas Department of Public Safety. In heavy traffic, the grass is pushed down around these landing areas, creating easily distinguishable paths. (Tyler Olson / Fox News)
The boat also stopped at several places to tour the landing sites of migrants who encounter the Rio Grande with rafts. The riverbrush in these places was heavily trampled, which meant that a large amount of traffic passed through them. Dropped rafts, empty water bottles, personal belongings, and even makeshift shelters could be seen along the shores.
“We have members of Congress Democrats who were with us four hours ago but are not with us now,” Donalds said. “It has to tell the American people everything. And so people will have a choice in November. It’s much more than politics. It’s national security.”
Member of the Selected Committee on Economic Inequality and Growth Justice Brian Style, R-Wis., Spoke with a member of the Texas Department of Public Safety on a boat patrolling the Rio Grande on June 17, 2022. (Tyler Olson / Fox News)
“Here we are at the epicenter of the worst national security crisis and the most immediate threat to the American people,” Arrington said. “So, whether they’re touring with us or they’d feel more comfortable touring alone or doing something about an issue that affects the security and safety of the American people more than anything.” Where is this tour? Where are these events? “
Arrington added: “Where are the meetings with Homeland Security officials, ICE agents, DPS soldiers? I don’t think that’s happening and I think it’s a missed opportunity. “
There were also fireworks at the field hearing. Republicans have attacked President Biden and Democrats for border security and the cost of an unprecedented border crossing to Texas and the United States more broadly.
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Cammack asked Democrat witnesses during the hearing if they would say yes or no if there was a border crisis – they largely refused to answer the question directly. Arrington also demanded a raise if witnesses believe the cartels are operating the border.
Representative Vicente Gonzalez, Texas, spoke to Fox News Digital before a field hearing on the selected Committee on Economic Inequality and Growth Justice on Friday, June 17, 2022 (Fox News / Tyler Olson)
Democrats, meanwhile, have kept their questions focused on the stated goal of the hearing, which was to improve the quality of infrastructure and help the very poor of South Texas. They did express some irritation over the Republicans’ focus on the border.
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But after the hearing, MP Vicente Gonzalez, Texas, raged against Republicans for allegedly slandering his community during the hearing. He said that despite the Republicans’ impact on the border crisis, McAllen and surrounding areas are not as dangerous as they say.
“I was horrified that my Republican colleagues used this unique opportunity to portray South Texas as an illegal and dangerous community,” Gonzalez said in a statement on Twitter. “With all their statistics, they forgot to mention that the Rio Grande Valley is home to some of the safest communities in the country.
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“It is ignorant and extremely disrespectful to my Republican colleagues to continue to use the Rio Grande Valley as a political background and to use my constituents as political pawns,” he continued. “It’s time for my Republican colleagues to take some time to sit down and learn a thing or two about what South Texas is all about.”
This week, the elected committee will hold another hearing on tax policy.
Tyler Olson covers Fox News Digital policy. You can contact him at tyler.olson@fox.com and follow him on Twitter at @ TylerOlson1791.
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