Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina claimed this week that he saw Brazilian migrants in Yuma, carrying Gucci suitcases and wearing designer clothing. AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo
Senator Lindsey Graham claimed that Brazilian immigrants are trying to enter America wearing designer clothing.
Graham claimed the claim to Fox News host Sean Hannity, and The Washington Post.
However, the spokesperson for The Post said that photos of people wearing Gucci bags did not show them.
Senator Lindsey Graham claims that Brazilian immigrants are crossing the border to the US "wearing designer clothes, Gucci bags"
Graham spoke to Fox News host Sean Hannity Tuesday, while criticizing the Biden administration for its border policy.
Fox News reported that 40,000 Brazilians had passed through Yuma Sector and headed to Connecticut in designer clothes and Gucci bags. This is no longer economic migration. People see an open America. They are taking advantage of us. It won't take long for a terrorist to get in this crowd."
In an interview with The Washington Post Tuesday, Graham repeated those claims. He also elaborated on Hannity's statements, and recounted to The Post what he saw during his recent trip in Yuma, Arizona.
He told The Post that people usually look so grotesque and have been through hell when they go to the border. "This time, at Yuma, there was a lot of people who looked smartly dressed and checked into hotels.
"This is a new concept. Graham stated that he would recommend the Biden administration do the same thing as the Obama administration and fly them back. He also said that Connecticut and two other states, which he couldn't recall immediately, were "destinations".
Graham's spokesperson Kevin Bishop also provided additional comments and photos to The Post. He claims that the photographs were taken on the Yuma trip.
Bishop said that there have been thousands of Brazilians passing through the area. "The luggage was more luxurious than Senator Graham's in Yuma," he said.
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The Post stated that none of the suitcases shown in the photos were Gucci products. Insider reached Graham's office for comment but they did not respond immediately.
Graham's source of the 40,000 immigrant number and the indication that the migrants were headed to Connecticut are not known. It is true, however, that this year saw a record number Brazilians being detained at the US border. Customs and Border Protection Data reports that more than 46.200 Brazilians were held at the US southern border in the most recent fiscal year.
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that middle-class migrants are trying to illegally cross the border into the United States by flying to Mexico. According to the news outlet, this wave of Brazilian migrants may be slightly better off than other refugees but they are likely being forced to flee the US due to the severe economic problems in Brazil.
Business Insider has the original article.
