Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) spoke to Texas Politics in an exclusive interview to discuss the Republican approach to the border crisis, countering it with the idea that Democrats want to "give up" on the American Dream.
During the Texas congressman’s answer, he mentioned that the GOP had more of a spine when former President Donald Trump (R) was in office, perhaps referencing the possible immigration deal between Republicans and Democrats currently being brokered by Senator James Lankford (R-OK).
“During my 25 years in Congress, I’ve taken an active part in understanding what our policy is, and have worked toward having a well-understood policy as opposed to one that occurred because of an influx or things that happened,” said Rep. Sessions. “And one of the things that happened way back when – and almost every single president we’ve had until Donald Trump – was giving in on this policy rather than sticking to the policy.”
He continued by stating that Republicans are not for people “breaking the law,” especially when it relates to the southern border.
“And while I understood parts of that, it undermines not just Rule of Law, but the national security that we have. So, the bottom line is, is that we do believe that people seeking asylum should follow the law and that should be done in the country where they are from. It should not be done where they show up and claim asylum at the United States border. And so, for the Democrats to say that we would oppose people when we know that’s breaking the law, that is not something Republicans are big at. That’s something Democrats are big at.,” said Rep. Sessions.
The Texas congressman then answered what exactly Republicans are plan to do to solve the migrant crisis at the border.
“We’re after a series of what are actually important steps that can control our national security. We are after the things that will allow Rule of Law to be better understood. Republicans have for a long time, been very aware that over a million people come to this country every year legally. We bring in a million people from around the globe. And years ago, we changed that process; to where we went from what might be a skilled worker contribution viewpoint to one that is now a lottery and has been a lottery process,” said Sessions. “The average person that shows up legally spends over 10 years on welfare. The United States believes that that’s part of our contribution, not to just of service to help other people, but to keep America’s good name alive. Allowing people to come, violate the law, not become Americans, and to form into their own little clusters is not in America’s best interest … we have a problem.”
Finally, he concluded that Democrats want to “give up” on the American Dream and the Rule of Law.
“So, I’m not surprised the Democratic Party wants to give up on the Rule of Law. They want to give up on the American Dream. And they want to give up on a process that would better able people to be successful in the United States instead of staying on welfare for the rest of their life. America is becoming a welfare state and that is what the Democrats are happy to do.”
Congressman Sessions represents Texas’ 17th Congressional District.
