Senate Foreign Relations Committee members visit border
Three members of the Foreign Relations Committee were on their way back home after a trip to Mexico City, where they met with government representatives to learn how to smooth relations between countries following our president’s campaign promises.
Senators Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts)toured the international border, where it was planned for them to learn more about immigration, security, and drug trafficking.
“President Trump’s proposal to build a wall would be a waste of taxpayer dollars and would not make us more secure,” ranking member Ben Cardin said.
It is the people of the El Paso-Juarez community, who cross the border every day, who the Senators say they want to protect from President Trump’s rhetoric and policies.
“You can’t control a border through end zone defense, you have to have strategies that work, that extend far beyond the border itself,” Senator Merkley said.
The senators explained both countries need to work together to solve the fundamental issues that lead to cross-border crime. The goal, they said, was to protect those outside and inside the US.
“We want to protect America and its borders. On its southwest border from the infiltration of illegal drugs, we want to protect Americans in regards to who comes into our country, particularly those who would like to cause harm to our country,” Cardin said.
The senators explained one of the most important things they learned and will take back to Washington is the importance they saw in having the US and Mexico work together.
