Ranking member of the House Oversight Committee Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is demanding answers over Democrats' mysterious trips to Mexico, including details into the alleged "coaching" of migrants to exploit United States immigration law, a letter from the Republican exclusively obtained by Fox News says.
The letter, addressed to committee chairman Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), inquires about "at least two committee staff trips into Mexico in August — one of which required Border Patrol agents to provide a special escort back into the U.S.," Fox reports. Republicans were not informed of the trips, according to Rep. Jordan.
"Although you have the authority to direct Committee staff to travel internationally on official committee business, you have not explained why you authorized this travel into Mexico or what you sought to learn through these trips," the Ohio Republican wrote.
Democrats are seeking "to delegitimize the administration’s border security efforts and vilify the men and women who protect our border," Jordan accused, noting that the trips "could continue to result in misleading information about the administration's border security efforts."
The letter specifically asks about Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and alleged "coaching" of migrants. According to a report from The Washington Examiner in July, Escobar was "sending staff to Mexico's northern border town of Ciudad Juárez to find migrants returned from El Paso, Texas, under the 'remain in Mexico' policy, then coaching them to pretend they cannot speak Spanish to exploit a loophole letting them to return to the U.S."
Democrats ‘Coaching’ Migrants During Secret Mexico Trips, Leaked Letter Alleges
The letter, addressed to committee chairman Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), inquires about "at least two committee staff trips into Mexico in August — one of which required Border Patrol agents to provide a special escort back into the U.S.," Fox reports. Republicans were not informed of the trips, according to Rep. Jordan.
"Although you have the authority to direct Committee staff to travel internationally on official committee business, you have not explained why you authorized this travel into Mexico or what you sought to learn through these trips," the Ohio Republican wrote.
Democrats are seeking "to delegitimize the administration’s border security efforts and vilify the men and women who protect our border," Jordan accused, noting that the trips "could continue to result in misleading information about the administration's border security efforts."
The letter specifically asks about Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and alleged "coaching" of migrants. According to a report from The Washington Examiner in July, Escobar was "sending staff to Mexico's northern border town of Ciudad Juárez to find migrants returned from El Paso, Texas, under the 'remain in Mexico' policy, then coaching them to pretend they cannot speak Spanish to exploit a loophole letting them to return to the U.S."
Democrats ‘Coaching’ Migrants During Secret Mexico Trips, Leaked Letter Alleges