‘You Are Just Wrong’: CNN Host Shuts Down Republican on Biden’s Powers to Shut the Border
Brianna Keilar fact checks congressman, to his face
A CNN host fact-checked a Republican congressman live, on-camera for his false claims that President Biden has unilateral authority under current law to shut the border of the United States to a further influx of migrants.
Elected Republicans — from House Speaker Mike Johnson, on down — have made repeated false claims that Biden already has unilateral authority to close the border under current law.
They’ve been repeating those falsehoods as political cover for backing away — at Donald Trump’s urging — from the tough border security legislation they themselves sought not long ago.
Host Brianna Keilar was interviewing Rep Josh Brecheen (R-Okla) Tuesday when the exchange took place.
“We have no problem if the Immigration and Nationality Act would be enforced to the level that Congress said it should be enforced. Detention until a proceeding. That’s with the Immigration Nationality Act, Section 235 says. And yet, you have an administration who’s claiming, well, here’s a solution, but the real solution has already been on the books for decades, and they refuse to enforce it,” claimed. “In 2017, it was being enforced. You had the lowest number of illegal immigration in our nation’s history, 40 years. And yet, what’s the difference between 2017 and to date? The difference is an administration that chooses to be lawless.”
“Can we have an honest conversation about this?” Keilar asked the lawmaker.
“Yeah,” Brecheen replied.
“Because the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that you’re talking about also says that people can come to the border and ask for asylum, even if they cross into the U.S. without authorization. And if you are citing that bill, you should be very much aware of this, because this particular bill in the Senate side would change that,” Keilar explained. “It would give the president the ability to do exactly what you were citing, the part of the bill that you’re citing. Because in November of 2018, when former President Trump tried to use that very bill that you’re talking about to curb illegal migrant crossings, he was prevented from doing so by a federal court, because it violated the very law that he was trying to use, the law that you are saying is on the books.”
Brecheen said, “Now hang on, let me finish. Let me finish,” before continuing to repeat his incorrect talking points.
“Listen, Democrats in many of these cities, we have had them on, they have major problems because of the crisis at the border. But you are just wrong when it comes to that bill, because what you are calling for President Biden to do is something that former President Trump attempted and that a court found he couldn’t do,” Keilar said. “The bill says that people can come to the U.S. border and ask for asylum, even if they cross into the U.S. without authorization. And I know that’s inconvenient, but that is in the very bill that you are citing.”
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