As tensions mount nationwide over immigration policy at the U.S. southern border, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) decided Wednesday to float some ideas previously proposed by former President Donald Trump.
Garcia came prepared to the Republican-led House Oversight committee hearing on President Joe Biden’s efforts to “undermine U.S. immigration law” with a visual: a poster of alligators on a moat.
“This one’s got a little hat,” Garcia noted.
Garcia questioned David Bier, associate director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, about the plan depicted in his poster.
“Do you think it would be a good idea to build a water-filled trench, filled with alligators, along the border?” asked Garcia.
“That would be a misuse of taxpayer dollars,” a deadpan Bier replied. “And extremely inhumane.”
Garia doubled down.
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“You think it would be inhumane to build a moat, put alligators in them, along the border, that would not be a good idea?”
“No.”
“What if,” Garcia replied, “we instead ordered soldiers to shoot migrants in the legs?”
“That would be attempted murder,” Bier explained.
Garcia then questioned Bier about the 85 miles of fencing that resulted from Trump’s pledge to build a wall on nation’s border with Mexico.
“Would it be better if we electrified it and put spikes at the top?” Garcia asked.
“That would dramatically increase the cost that the border patrol would incur,” Bier said. He noted fall injuries have already cost the U.S. millions of dollars.
How about trying military strikes in Mexico, Garcia asked. “Would that make the border more or less secure?”
“Creating a crisis in Mexico would probably be the best thing you could do to increase illegal immigration,” Bier replied.
Garcia appeared to agree.
“Every single one of these ideas — alligator moats, missiles into Mexico, shooting migrants in the legs, putting spikes on top of the wall — these are all the ideas on how to make our border system, and our immigration system, more fair according to Donald Trump,” Garcia said.
“Obviously Donald Trump has no idea what he’s talking about. Over and over, we’re seeing these horrific ideas.”
This exchange made it's way to X where users delighted in the scene, despaired at the policy and asked questions.
"Bier is fantasticly dry," wrote Bill deMayo. "Excellent sarcasm."
"Not so funny if put in context that #Trump, despite all his insanity, is the leading #GOP candidate for president," wrote Orest. "Yes the same one that suggested injecting disinfectant to help fight COVID."
"The border is more that 3,000 miles long," noted Rick W. "How many gators would it take?"
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