A furious Ted Cruz lashed out at a Texas reporter on Thursday night after he asked him what the Republicans had done to help create workable policy at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Texas senator, livid, yelled that the reporter ‘should be ashamed’ for his question, accusing him of ‘parroting’ Democrat talking points and challenging him for statistics.
The bad-tempered exchange saw other reporters rally to their fellow journalist’s defense, and Cruz then angrily wave them away.
Cruz staged a press conference with members of the Border Patrol, and issued a fiery condemnation of Joe Biden’s administration for allowing the chaos at the border to unfold.
Ted Cruz is seen on Thursday holding a press conference to discuss the state of the U.S.-Mexico border, in the Texan city of Brownsville
On Thursday evening, Cruz predicted the situation would continue to worsen
Derick Garcia (left) on Thursday challenged Cruz (right): Cruz said his question was ‘ridiculous’ and he ‘should be ashamed’
When Cruz said that there was a lack of policy, Derick Garcia, a journalist with CBS 4 News, asked what their alternative policy was.
‘You have voted down multiple times their policies,’ Garcia said.
Cruz laughed in disgust at the question.
Garcia continued: ‘To the Republican members who are here today: what have you specifically done to help Joe Biden end this situation?’
Cruz, visible angry, replied: ‘Alright, so that is a ridiculous and silly question. I want to commend you for being the media and telling a Democrat policy. So let me ask you something.’
Another reporter jumped to Garcia’s defense, saying: ‘Come on, man. This has been going on for 20 years.’
Cruz replied: ‘OK. Let me ask you something. What rate of illegal immigration did we have in 2020? Do you know anything? I asked you a question.’
Garcia replied: ‘How long have you been in office?’ – to which Cruz answered 11 years.
Garcia pointed out that the situation had been problematic ‘for multiple administrations’.
Cruz said: ‘You don’t get to argue with me. You asked your question. You want to hold a press conference, you can do it over there.’
Expressing his anger, Cruz accused the Biden administration of intentionally creating the situation, describing it as a travesty. He was also furious with reporters
Cruz thanked Border Patrol and Troopers stationed along the border for their help calling them ‘heroes’
Cruz characterized the situation at the border as ‘an invasion’ accusing the Biden administration of wanting the numbers to increase while praising Border Patrol
Cruz characterized the situation at the border as an invasion and accused the Biden administration of wanting the numbers to increase
Cruz spoke with members of the U.S. Border Patrol and praised their efforts
He continued: ‘The talking point of the Democrats, which this reporter happily parrots, is, gosh, this problem can’t be fixed.
‘There is one little problem with that: it is an utter and complete lie.
‘In 2020, the last year of the Trump presidency, we had the lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years.
‘You ask what have I done? I’ve championed the men and women of Border Patrol. I’ve championed securing the border. I’ve championed Remain In Mexico.
‘And we turned this problem around and solved it.’
Cruz added: ‘Joe Biden inherited the lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years. And the first day in office, he made political decisions to cause this problem.
‘And you should be ashamed of yourself because you’re a reporter and you’re not reporting facts. You’re telling lies.
‘Joe Biden made a political decision. And they turn a blind eye.’
Migrants are seen on Friday being processed by Border Patrol agents by the Tijuana-San Diego border
Migrants wait to board a bus in Yuma, Arizona on Thursday
A group is seen waiting to be processed near the Ciudad Juarez-El Paso crossing on Friday
Cruz said that he had questioned Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security Secretary, six weeks ago on the Judiciary Committee.
Cruz asked him about the colored wrist bands that people traffickers use to identify their ‘cargo’: Mayorkas said he had never seen them.
He said the people traffickers left young men indentured as cartel foot soldiers, and young girls working as sex slaves.
‘The media don’t report on that,’ he concluded.
‘You should be ashamed. This is evil. And the reason you don’t see any Democrats here is: they can’t defend this.
‘They’re counting on the press not to cover it. It’s wrong.’
Garcia later defended his question, writing on Twitter: ‘It’s a legitimate question.
‘Title 42 was set to end a year ago.
‘Multiple efforts to send aid, enact policies and strategies were met with Nays.
‘Some don’t like being asked what they’ve done to fix when they’ve made millions on the “crisis”.’
