New Democratic border security task force aims to change border narrative

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — Over two dozen House Democrats in Washington on Tuesday announced the formation of a new Democratic border security caucus they say is aimed at changing the narrative from Republicans about how life really is at the border and what border communities need.

The Democrats for Border Security Task Force was co-formed by South Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar and Rep. Tom Suozzi, of New York.

They held a news conference Tuesday morning and said they back the bipartisan Senate border security bill, which House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he won’t put on the House floor.

“It’s important for Democrats to talk about strong border security and still be respectful of immigrants’ rights and values. For so long the Republicans have had a narrative about the border being a dangerous place and out of control. And I think it’s important that Democrats also have a narrative about border security.” said Cuellar, who is from the border town of Laredo. “Some of us know, we represent and we live at the border and we understand what the border is about.”

“Right now we have a situation in our country where the people who are standing here as part of this caucus are saying we’re going to do everything we can to come up with a solution,” Suozzi said.

President Joe Biden also touted the Senate bipartisan border bill when he visited the South Texas border town of Brownsville on Feb. 29. And he urged its passage when he gave his State of the Union address last week.

The bill proposes adding 1,500 U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel; adding 4,300 asylum officers — which is quadruple the current 1,000 asylum officers, increasing the number of detention beds from 40,000 to 50,000, and would appropriate $1.4 billion in funds for communities that assist migrants.

The task force has 26 members and many are from border communities.

Rep. Colin Allred, who represents Dallas, said his grandmother lived in Brownsville and his mother and aunt grew up there.

“I’m here because I’m a fourth-generation Texan. My family is from Brownsville, Texas,” Allred said. “I spent my childhood visiting my grandmother there. I know our border communities are not just political backdrops. They’re not just places you go to point out problems. They’re places where real people live. Where they’re trying to raise their families,” said Allred who is running against Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in November for the Senate seat.