Joe Biden’s recent visit to the U.S.-Mexico border was one of the most puzzling presidential visits in recent history. After months of a chaotic situation at the southern border, many expected to see Biden take a direct approach to the issue. Instead, he chose to stay clear of the migrants and only meet with local officials and nongovernmental organizations.
Fox News’ Neil Cavuto recently questioned Democratic Texas Rep. Vicente Gonzalez on President Biden’s lack of direct contact with the migrants. Cavuto asked why the streets of El Paso were “cleaned up” prior to Biden’s visit, noting that days before there were hundreds of migrants living on the streets. Gonzalez responded that people come in “spurts” and it’s not a “consistent flow of migrants.”
Cavuto then pressed Gonzalez on why Biden didn’t meet with migrants, to which Gonzalez responded that Biden “knows what the migrants look like” and seeing them wouldn’t help solve the crisis. Cavuto countered that Biden didn’t actually see the migrants and that it was like going to a Giants game without the Giants being there.
It’s clear that Biden’s visit was done for show without any real intention of addressing the issue head on. The White House later released a statement saying Biden “visited the busiest port of entry” and met with local officials, but it was too little too late. John Martin, Director for the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, told the Daily Caller News Foundation he was disappointed Biden didn’t see the crisis first hand.
Biden’s refusal to actually witness the crisis firsthand is concerning and speaks volumes about his commitment to solving the border crisis. Biden has been in office for nearly four months and the migrant situation at the border has only gotten worse. It’s time for Biden to take a real approach to the crisis and actually see the migrants and the conditions they are living in. Otherwise, he will continue to be criticized for talking the talk but not walking the walk.
Erica Carlin is an independent journalist, opinion writer and contributor to several news and opinion sources. She is based in Georgia.
