Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard slammed President Joe Biden’s administration over plans to let Title 42 lease in the coming weeks.
Gabbard shared a short thread on Twitter after news broke that a National Guard soldier had drowned while trying to rescue migrants from the Rio Grande River.
“Out of compassion, a National Guardsman heroically dove into the Rio Grande River to save two illegal immigrants on the verge of drowning. They lived—he didn’t. Those who are trying to protect our borders are the real humanitarians, not those who advocate for open borders…” Gabbard began.
Out of compassion, a National Guardsman heroically dove into the Rio Grande River to save two illegal immigrants on the verge of drowning. They lived—he didn’t. Those who are trying to protect our borders are the real humanitarians, not those who advocate for open borders…
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) April 24, 2022
“…which mainly benefit the gangs and cartels, who profit from human trafficking and smuggling contraband, that are now thriving under this Administration’s open-border policy,” Gabbard continued. “The establishment’s plan to repeal Title 42 will make the situation even worse…”
…which mainly benefit the gangs and cartels, who profit from human trafficking and smuggling contraband, that are now thriving under this Administration’s open-border policy. The establishment's plan to repeal Title 42 will make the situation even worse…
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) April 24, 2022
“…causing more suffering and hardship to both the illegal immigrants as well as the American people,” she concluded.
According to the Daily Wire’s report, a member of the Texas National Guard jumped into the Rio Grande just after 10 a.m. local time in an attempt to rescue a female migrant. She was pulled from the river alive, but “witnesses never saw the guardsman resurface after he removed his body armor and jumped into the river.”
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin confirmed that 48 hours later, although the Guardsman is presumed drowned, no body had yet been recovered.
“Good morning from Eagle Pass, TX where illegal crossings continue nonstop. This group just walked across the Rio Grande as it runs lower in the AM hours. Just a few miles away is where a TX National Guard soldier presumably drowned. Still not found after nearly 48 hours,” he tweeted on Sunday morning.
Good morning from Eagle Pass, TX where illegal crossings continue nonstop. This group just walked across the Rio Grande as it runs lower in the AM hours.
Just a few miles away is where a TX National Guard soldier presumably drowned. Still not found after nearly 48 hours @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/E5itglQrec— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) April 24, 2022
Since the incident, according to the Texas Star Tribune, some unit commanders have barred troops from going into the water at all, while some others have restricted personnel from entering the water without carrying flotation devices.
Despite warnings that the number of migrants flooding the border will only increase — exponentially — President Biden’s administration plans to roll back the Title 42 policy that has allowed U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to turn migrants away at the border due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19.
And according to recent reports, even Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has concerns about doing so without relying on the CDC for guidance.
According to a report from Axios, “DHS spokesperson Marsha Espinosa told Axios: ‘As Secretary Mayorkas has said repeatedly, Title 42 is a public health authority — not an immigration authority — and he defers to the public health experts at the CDC for any decisions related to it … As he has also repeatedly said, we anticipate an increase in migrant encounters after the lifting of Title 42, and he is leading a whole-of-government response to apprehend, process and remove from the country those who are not eligible for relief.”