An Arizona sheriff told House lawmakers on Wednesday that there is a “racist element” to proposals to build a wall on the southern border unless a wall is also built on the U.S.-Canada border.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway testified before the House Homeland Security Committee about the border crisis, explaining how immigration has a positive impact on the economy in response to a question from Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi.
“They actually keep price inflation in check. You see job ads all over the country. Adding productivity to the economy makes the economy more productive,” Hathaway said.
Hathaway then addressed calls for a wall to be built on the southern border with Mexico.
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Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway testified before House members on Wednesday. (Home)
“I hate to use the 'R' word, but this is the 800-pound gorilla in the room,” he said. “There's a xenophobic aspect to this. There's never been a proposal to build a wall on our northern border, on the Canadian border. There's never been an intention to aggressively enforce Title 42 on the Canadian border.”
Title 42 is a Trump administration-era policy enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic that authorized U.S. authorities to turn away migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border over health concerns.
“So we're all ignoring the racist element to this, but it's been simmering in the background,” Hathaway said.
His comments were made while sitting next to the mother of Rachel Morin, who was allegedly murdered in Maryland last year by an illegal immigrant from El Salvador.
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Patty Morin, whose daughter was murdered, testified before the House Homeland Security Committee on September 18, 2024, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Tasos Katpodis/Getty Images)
“I was told that she was ambushed along the road by illegal immigrants fleeing El Salvador. They grabbed her, dragged her through the woods, raped her, strangled her and murdered her,” Patty Morin told lawmakers.
“I was told her body was covered in bruises. I saw her when I went to the funeral home and it was probably the most horrific thing I've ever seen.”
The Biden administration has come under fire from Republicans over border policies that have allowed record numbers of illegal immigrants to enter the United States.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) grilled Hathaway about his knowledge of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Rachel Morin was dragged off a hiking trail on August 5, 2023 and brutally murdered. (Handouts for families)
“Are you the sheriff?” Jimenez asked. “One of the most violent gangs to come out of Venezuela is coming to your town.”
The senator, a Cuban immigrant, also disputed Hathaway's claim that supporting a border wall is racist.
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“I believe immigration should be legal. I'm against illegal immigration. Am I a racist?” Jimenez asked, before the sheriff doubled down on his border wall case.
