The Texas Observer has just published a vivid portrayal from two Texas sheriffs of the status at the southwest border which is in stark contrast to the mayhem described by Trump. These sheriffs, with enforcement responsibilities for hundreds of miles of border, concur that the Trump wall is not needed and if built would be a huge waste of tax dollars.
They describe life in their jurisdictions as very safe. Murders and violent crime remain rare. Immigrants who come to the border seeking asylum are described as primarily families fleeing violence and dysfunction in their home countries. And most importantly these desperate people do not pose threats to the citizens living along the border.
These descriptions contrast sharply with the propaganda about the border coming from Trump. Trump insists that the border is a hotbed of drug and sex traffickers pouring into the country as well as violent gang members intent on raping and robbing Americans once they have made it into the country.
Hmmmm……..whom to believe? These sheriffs simply report the facts as they perceive them They certainly would push for a wall if deep down they felt it would somehow be useful. Trump, however. is another story. He hit the campaign stage already planning on making border security a chief rallying cry. whether it reflected reality or not.
He captured immediate headlines by calling Mexicans rapists and got huge cheers from his supporters when claiming that he would build a fancy, expensive wall and that the Mexicans would pay for it. These voters already predisposed to resent immigrants and begrudge the illegal migrants here were overjoyed at Trump’s words. More than overjoyed, they were rapturous. Here was a candidate who spoke their language and was the opposite of PC. Trump built enthusiasm for his candidacy on the backs of the immigrants.
It would be valuable if all of the major publications would run this article in their papers. The truth about the actual status at the border needs to be widely circulated as described by people with credibility. Here are two law enforcement officers with commentary completely contradicting the words of the President. They have no skin in the game. Trump however has promises to keep.
https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-border-sheriffs-there-is-no-crisis-and-we-dont-want-trumps-wall/