CNN's Jim Sciutto clashed with Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) after he demanded to know why the congressman wouldn't back the bipartisan border security deal former President Donald Trump has been leaning on Republicans to block — and then fact-checked his claims about the border situation.
"Your colleagues demanded that the aid [to Ukraine] be packaged with a border security deal," said Sciutto. "That deal may not have everything that the House wants, but it certainly raises the standard for asylum seekers. It put billions of dollars more into border security. It also is trying to shorten the time that those cases are heard. Why isn't it better to have increase security at the border rather than nothing?"
"Well, that's a false choice because Joe Biden shredded the Remain in Mexico policy his first week in office, he did it with great flamboyance and he could reinstate that today," said Williams.
"Many of the moves you've talked about, that President Trump attempted, were challenged in courts," Sciutto shot back. "You had a Democratic president ... as you know, this is a president who is actually making concessions that previous Democratic presidents didn't make. I just wonder why is it safer for your constituents to have no increased security at the border, as opposed to that negotiated by your Senate Republican colleagues?"
"Well, I'm glad to hear you say that Joe Biden has provided no security at the border," said Williams.
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"I'm asking you why no deal is better for your constituents for the rest of the year, as opposed to a deal that significantly tightened up restrictions of the border," said Sciutto.
"Well, because five — permitting in the law, in the code, 5,000 per day on average, over a period of time to enter—"
"That's not true," Sciutto cut him off. "It's not allowing 5,000 — it's not allowing them in, it's saying at 5,000 encounters, you don't entertain any more encounters at the border."
"Sorry, is that respecting each other?" said Williams. "Is that what you're getting at here?"
"I will challenge you when you say something that's not true," Sciutto replied.
"Oh, and you're the arbiter of truth?" said Williams.
"James Lankford, a Republican senator, said that the 5,000 in per day talking point was false," said Sciutto. "So I'll quote him if you won't take my word for it."
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Jim Sciutto and Brandon Williams spar over border security dealwww.youtube.com
