Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Republican Congressman Who Represents a Border District Just Said What We're All Thinking About Donald Trump's Border Wall

Republican Congressman Who Represents a Border District Just Said What We're All Thinking About Donald Trump's Border Wall
Texas Republican Representative Will Hurd appears on CNN with Wolf Blitzer January 9, 2019. (CNN)

Accurate.

President Donald Trump repeatedly claims only Democrats oppose his multi-billion dollar border wall. He also claims Republicans are completely unified in supporting it and back his decision to shut down portions of the government—including the Department of Homeland Security—until he gets the billions of dollars he wants for his wall.

But Texas Republican Representative Will Hurd stated otherwise in an interview with CNN.


Hurd represents a district on the southern border with Mexico. In fact, Hurd's district covers 820 miles of the border, well over a third of the 1,954 mile border with Mexico.

When asked for his thoughts on the wall, Hurd—a member of both the House Homeland Security and Intelligence Committees—stated:

"I think building a concrete structure sea to shining sea is the most expensive and least effective way to do border security."

Watch his remarks here.

Hurd's assessment reflects the thoughts of experts on border security who point out advancements in technology that are utilized more effectively than a wall and could be purchased with a fraction of the money Trump wants for his wall. The Department of Homeland Security budget requests to Congress never included a wall—prior to Trump appointing Kirstjen Nielsen to the post—as experts within the department also understand actual border security and immigration statistics.

The majority of undocumented immigrants who enter the United States still come in legally on a variety of visa types—student, tourist, work—then simply stay after their visa expires. Their arrivals are through legal points or entry on planes or in other types of vehicles, not by walking across the southern border.

Hurd went on to comment on the President's threat to declare a national emergency if he did not get his border wall billions.

Hurd said:

"It would be an amazing misuse and abuse of power."

So why—if every expert in border security and immigration statistics indicate a wall is ineffective and a waste of billions that could be better used by Homeland Security in upgrading technology and increasing staffing—does Trump insist he get his multi-billion dollar wall or else?

Conservative media pundits like Ann Coulter and hosts on Fox News mock him about his campaign promise and popular Make America Great Again rally chant of "build a wall."

However as polls indicate, the majority of United States voters oppose the waste of billions of dollars to pander to right wing pundits, the conservative press and MAGA rally supporters. People voiced just such in response to Hurd's remarks on CNN.

Some pointed out flaws in the Trump one-size fits all multi-million dollar prototypes that were already constructed and failed in testing.

Others voiced support for Hurd's assessment.

Others suggested the GOP listen to their member of Congress who represents a border district.

However a few Trump supporters failed to understand the points Hurd made but were corrected.

As Trump's government shutdown tactic to gain his border wall funding approaches the third week, the President heads to the border for a photo-op to try to gain the support his presidential address on Tuesday failed to garner. If all other attempts to force Congress to give him the billions he wants fail, Trump stated he would likely declare a national emergency to bypass Congress.

More from People/donald-trump

screenshots of Leonardo DiCaprio at the Golden Globes
@kylebuchanan/X

Lipreader Breaks Down What Leonardo DiCaprio Was Flamboyantly Saying In Viral Golden Globes Video

A candid moment of actor Leonardo DiCaprio at the recent Golden Globes went viral for the actor's over the top mannerisms and facial expressions.

The video snippet left people laughing, but it also left them wondering what exactly he was saying. The only word everyone seemed to decipher was "K-pop," a genre of popular music originating in South Korea.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barron Trump
Chip Somodevilla/AFP via Getty Images

MAGA Has 'Simple Diplomatic Solution' For How The U.S. Can Acquire Greenland—And It Involves Barron Trump

MAGA supporters have everyone rolling their eyes after they suggested President Donald Trump's son Barron Trump could marry 18-year-old Princess Isabella of Denmark in exchange for Greenland.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark and is, alongside the Faroe Islands, the only other autonomous territory within the Kingdom. Citizens of both Greenland and the Faroe Islands are full citizens of Denmark. As one of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union, Greenland’s citizens are also recognized as EU citizens.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bill and Hillary Clinton; James Comer
Justin Williams/Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The Clintons Scorch GOP Rep. While Refusing To Testify On Epstein In Mic Drop Letter

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer in a letter explaining why they would not be appearing for their deposition on Tuesday as part of an investigation into the late financier, sex-trafficker and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

President Clinton has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, though he maintained a well-documented friendship with him during the 1990s and early 2000s. Republicans have repeatedly focused on that relationship as part of their broader effort to control the narrative and demands surrounding a comprehensive accounting of Epstein’s crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ilhan Omar; Elon Musk
Kent Nishimura/Getty Images; STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ilhan Omar Effortlessly Drags Elon Musk After He Parrots Easily-Debunked Conspiracy About Her

Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar called out billionaire Elon Musk after he claimed erroneously that Somalis are being brought illegally to Minnesota to help keep her in office.

Musk amplified a graphic on X that asserted Democrats support illegal immigration as a way to absorb noncitizens into their voting base. Musk accused Omar, who was born in Somalia, of profiting from the purported arrangement.

Keep ReadingShow less
do not cross police barricade tape close-up
David von Diemar on Unsplash

True Crime Lovers Reveal 'Dumb Mistakes' Serial Killers Make That Get Them Caught In The End

True crime has become incredibly popular with the introduction of cable television then streaming services and podcasts.

Once just a section in bookstores, there are entire cable channels dedicated to recapping crime.

Keep ReadingShow less