During the fourth Republican Party debate on Wednesday night, the candidates present in Alabama were asked how they would address “the crisis on the southern border.”
National polls show immigration and migrants entering the United States illegally as among the top issues in the country. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wasn’t able to answer the question when it was posed by the moderators, but Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, ex-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy discussed the topic at length.
DeSantis spoke passionately about going after those who bring fentanyl into the country.
“The drug cartels are invading our country and they are killing our citizens,” DeSantis said.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The Florida lawmaker went on about the dangers of fentanyl in the U.S., relating a story about the drug’s residue being on the floor of an Airbnb rental, which he said resulted in the death of a baby.
“Is this acceptable in this country? I know the elites in D.C., they don’t care. They don’t care that fentanyl is ravaging your community. They don’t care that illegal aliens are ravaging our community and overwhelming our community,” DeSantis said. “The commander-in-chief not only has a right, you have a responsibility to fight back against these people. And it means you’re going to categorize them as foreign terrorist organizations.”
He then advocated for continuing construction of a wall along the southern border.
“Here’s the thing: If we had a wall across the southern border, which I support, this would not have happened. We need to build a wall across the southern border. I’ll get it done,” DeSantis told the audience, as he parroted Trump’s promise from years ago by saying that he’d make Mexico pay for it.
Before Haley discussed the issue, she was asked about comments she made regarding catching and deporting illegal migrants. Haley clarified that she would at first deport “all of the seven or eight million illegals that have come [into the U.S.] under [President Joe] Biden’s watch.”
“We have to stop the incentive of what’s bringing them over here in the first place,” she added, noting temporary protective status given to Venezuelans.
Haley said migrants who have been in the country longer should be examined if they’ve been “vetted” and “paid taxes.”
Regarding illegal drugs, she called for “special operations” to deal with cartels. Haley also said China should be punished for producing fentanyl.
“Look at where fentanyl came from. Let’s go to the heart of the matter. It came from China. That’s why we need to end all normal trade relations with China until they stop murdering Americans with fentanyl,” she said. “I promise you they need our economy. They will immediately stop that.”
Ramaswamy said, “The easy part is talking about how we’re going to use our military to secure the border. I will, and I believe that everybody else wants to do the same thing.”
He also supported action against China but said the “harder part” is addressing the “mental health epidemic raging across this country like wildfire” rather than hitting the “the demand side of it.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
