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After trip to southern border, Daines ‘more convinced than ever’ that greater security needed

Posted at 9:25 PM, Feb 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-11 23:25:44-05

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT)  wasn’t exactly on the fence when it comes to a border wall, but after a visit to the Rio Grande Valley, he is more convinced than ever that more needs to be done to secure the southern border.

Daines spent the night with Border Control agents at what he calls “ground zero” of the southern border crisis—the Rio Grande Valley near McAllen.

He says they witnessed hundreds of people crossing over the border illegally.

“We saw firsthand the impacts of a porous border. I would describe it as porous and primitive. They are capturing hundreds of illegals every night in the Rio Grande Valley sector,” Daines said.

At one point, Daines says agents were involved in a chase that ended with the capture of two men from Honduras. One told him he was headed to New York, the other to Miami.

Daines says that agents told him that only about 10 percent of the people crossing are being apprehended in this sector.

“They are bringing meth, heroin, cocaine, and meth across and these drugs are tearing apart Montana,” Daines said.

Daines says he was told that closing off about 135 miles in this sector would reverse that and result in 90%-to-95% apprehensions.

“It’s false that it would be a sea to shining sea wall,” Daines said.

Daines, a Republican, called it utterly ridiculous that the possibility of another government shutdown is looming if Congress can’t reach a deal this week.

“Past presidents, Democrats and Republicans, have been able to get border funding approved by Congress and have built walls. This has become a political football,” said Daines.

Russ Riesinger reporting for MTN News