Banks, who heads the Republican Study Committee, was the focus of all the attention. He was joined by roughly twenty-six Republicans on the trip that he organized to see firsthand border crossings. On Tuesday night, the GOP legislators walked along a path that is often used by migrants to cross the border in La Joya, Texas. This was a first for many of them.After crossing the Rio Grande, migrants traveled on a gravel road with the Republicans for a brief time. Some children were accompanied by their mothers while others traveled on their own.Reps. Lauren Boebert and Mary Miller (R.Colo.) walked with migrants at one point. They asked them questions which were then translated by a Spanish-speaking journalist who was covering the event. The group claimed they were from Guatemala and that they planned to surrender to border patrol agents.As they attack the Biden administration, the Republicans will likely cite their emotions. They claim that policies have created a dangerous border environment and empowered drug cartels. However, Democrats are not resigning from their fight against Trump's immigration legacy that has been widely criticized for its separation of migrant family members at the border."If Republicans were serious in addressing the issues at the border they'd join President Biden, Democrats in working to clean-up the mess they left behind and create a safe, humane immigration system and finally pass immigration reform," Ammar Moussa, Director of Democratic National Committee Rapid Response, stated in a statement. "Anything less than that is political theater."The GOP border trip this week was already underway when Vice President Kamala Harris announced she would be visiting El Paso (Texas) to observe the situation. Republicans have repeatedly attacked Harris for not visiting the border since she assumed a leadership role in immigration policy for Biden's White House. They responded to her visit by arguing that El Paso is a way to avoid the more serious issues in the McAllen region.Rep. Tom Tiffany (R.Wis.), visits the U.S. Border in La Joya. Olivia Beavers/POLITICOBiden and Harris both "swore that they would protect and defend the Constitution, obey the law and enforce it," Rep. Brian Babin (R.Texas), told reporters Tuesday night after the GOP group arrived. Yet, they openly and willfully allow our border to be opened up, encouraging people up here to make a dangerous trek.Many children from migrant families who were making the trek met the Republicans Tuesday night. They carried small backpacks and papers explaining their reasons for traveling. They sat on the grass waiting for their papers to be processed before being loaded onto buses.A child aged 8 years old, who was lying on the ground, told lawmakers through an interpreter, that he had crossed border alone in hopes of meeting his brother and mother, who were already in the U.S.Miller was visibly upset while she listened to the story of the boys.Rep. Darrell Issa (R.Calif.) stated that "Since they are saying they cannot control this, then they've admitted up to an invasion." "They have not been able to meet their Constitutional requirement."Issa was among many pro-Trump conservatives that participated in the Texas trip organized and led by Banks. His caucus is one of the largest in the House GOP.After Trump accepted Gov. Banks spoke of the invitation to the border by Greg Abbott (R-Texas), and said that it was a compliment on fellow House Republicans. It wasn't widely reported.The former president attended a briefing held by Abbott, Lt. Governor. Before his scheduled visit to the border barriers, Dan Patrick met with Attorney General Ken Paxton and Dan Patrick.Trump's trip to Texas is being used to defend his White House term and to test future themes. During the briefing, Trump praised the symbolic and practical utility of the U.S.-Mexico wall and linked China to illegal drug smuggling into the country.Trump sometimes veered off-topic into false assertions about the presidency being stolen from him. He laments about New York City election officers bungling Democratic mayoral primary results, and criticizes Biden for unraveling many Trump-era immigration and border strategies.Trump stated that we had great policies in place, but they all came to an abrupt halt. It's almost as if they were destroyed because I did them.Trump linked the two issues as evidence of the U.S.'s decline under Democratic governance. He said that "if there are no good elections and if there isn't a strong border, then you don't have a country."This report was contributed by Nick Niedzwiadek
