Speaker Kevin McCarthy led a delegation of freshman Republican lawmakers to the southern border on Thursday, his first visit since becoming the Speaker of the House. He was accompanied by Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) and Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.).

The House lawmakers received a briefing and took an aerial tour of the Tucson, Arizona sector on the U.S.-Mexico border with CBP. The Tucson Sector is one of the busiest in the country in terms of both marijuana seizures and illegal alien apprehensions.

Joe Biden, a person who has only visited the southern border once in his entire life, issued a statement through his spokesperson that slams the Republicans.

“Since President Biden took action to implement new border enforcement and immigration measures last month, illegal border crossings are down to their lowest levels in years,” said White House spokesperson Ian Sams. “Why won’t they support President Biden’s plan to fund border security now?”

“House Republicans should spend less time on partisan publicity stunts and more time working on solutions,” Sams added. “Solutions are what President Biden is focused on, and his is plan working. House Republicans would be wise to join him to work together to strengthen our immigration system and fund border security.”

That is the default position in commenting about trips to the southern border by lawmakers from the Biden administration – it’s a stunt. Rational people might describe it as doing oversight on how the border is being secured, which is a national security issue. Joe Biden does not value national sovereignty or the safety of Americans at home. It’s funny how now there only seem to be Republicans showing up to see for themselves what is happening on the southern border. I’m old enough to remember when progressives like AOC and her Squad would stand outside migrant detention centers and shed tears for the cameras. What happened to those Democrats who were so curious and concerned? They have been silent for almost three years.

The Tucson Sector spans about 262 border miles which cover most of Arizona from the New Mexico State line to the Yuma County line. 3,700 agents are working across nine stations

Gaps in the wall. Abandoned tech. The Biden Administration stopped our border security progress in its tracks.

Why is the President Biden denying law enforcement and property owners the use of every possible tool at their disposal to secure the border and end the crisis? pic.twitter.com/MyKwM3LzYz

— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) February 16, 2023

There will be no discussions in the House about immigration reform until the border is secured. “The first thing that has to be done is secure the border before we have any immigration reform. Once we’re able to secure it, I think we’ll move forward with immigration.”

The number of illegal migrants apprehended at the border has decreased due to a new program put in place by DHS. Migrants from an increased number of countries are automatically expelled to Mexico. It’s an expansion of the program to slow migration from Venezuela. Mexico is now willing to take migrants from other countries.

The trip comes as border crossings were down 42% between December and January after the controversial Title 42 measure was expanded to include barring citizens of Mexico, Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Venezuela from entering the US at the southern border to claim asylum. Citizens of those countries are instead expelled to Mexico.

“The January monthly operational update clearly illustrates that new border enforcement measures are working,” Troy Miller of CBP said in a statement.

It goes to show that the flood of illegal migrants crossing the southern border can be controlled, as previous presidents have done. Biden chooses to not use tried and true programs and agreements, though, and intentionally created the border crisis. His priority is not a secure border. Biden chooses chaos over order. It is a dereliction of duty.

McCarthy said the House will move hearings about the Biden border crisis to the southern border. That should be interesting.