Presidential candidate & Sen. Cory Booker makes Juarez-El Paso border crossing with migrants
Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey escorted a group of asylum-seeking migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday afternoon.
Booker sought to get five women fleeing domestic violence admitted safely to the U.S. after they had previously been sent back to Mexico under the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy.
After discussions with lawyers and border officials, the group crossed the Santa Fe bridge from Cuidad Jurez to El Paso, where Booker spoke with reporters.
“I saw an opportunity that I could make a difference with my office,” Booker said, “and get them fairly evaluated.”
“We’re going to follow them all the way through that (asylum) process,” he added. “They’re legitimate, and they should be allowed entry.”
Booker’s efforts to personally accompany asylum seekers across the border came a day after his presidential campaign released his immigration plan, in which he said he’d end the border crisis with executive action and vowed to “virtually eliminate” immigration detention.