There is a crisis on the US-Mexico border and Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, is speaking out.
“The Biden administration is unfortunately continuing a multi-presidential administrative legacy allowing chaos and facilitating humanitarian crises at America’s southern border,” Samuel Rodriguez says. “President Biden has thus far failed in his commitment to do something different. He has failed to develop a viable plan to protect the citizens of this country and the innocent lives of those men, women and children approaching our border.”
As reported by AP News, “More than 4,000 migrant children were being held by the Border Patrol as of Sunday, including at least 3,000 in custody longer than the 72-hour limit set by a court order, according to a U.S. official.”
The number of migrants being stopped at the US-Mexico border has been rising since last April. Many come in hopes of the new administration’s rhetoric and policy changes regarding immigration. But in recent weeks, the president has sought to back-pedal on his promises.
In an ABC interview with George Stephanopoulos, President Biden said his message to migrants is “I can say quite clearly: Don’t come over. Don’t leave your town or city or community.”
The humanitarian crisis at the border incited Samuel Rodriguez to issue this statement, warning about human traffickers seizing opportunities with vulnerable minors: “To be clear: the President of the United States has himself given a haphazard and de facto green light to human traffickers around the world to apply their profane trade on the dreams of the most vulnerable.”
Rodriguez challenged the president to consider the cost before speaking or acting. “President Biden’s words and actions are now prompting record numbers of migrants to approach our southern border, producing an overwhelming backlog, and all the predictable effects,” Rodriguez says. “An application of biblical wisdom is in order: ‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?’ Was there no plan, no study, no analysis, no reform? Just permission?”
Any president’s words have consequences, and for Rodriguez, Biden’s words are resulting in dire consequences. Rodriguez says, “Former President Obama famously stated that elections have consequences. But policies also have consequences. Biden’s wink and nod has come with dire consequences. It is a dream come true for the coyotes, cartels and human traffickers. The American people and desperate, innocent immigrants are losing—not only their security but often their lives.”
And Rodriguez ends with a challenge for the Biden administration. “It’s over time for the Biden administration to work with Congress to move forward on comprehensive immigration reform that will protect our border, and incorporate advanced technology to vet those seeking entrance to our country. In the meantime, the southern border must be secured, now.”
