Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke said Tuesday that while he understands the need for border security, border walls help contribute to the deaths of asylum-seekers who are trying to flee dangerous countries.
O’Rourke, whose family lives in El Paso, Texas, said during an interview on “The View” they care more than anyone about a secure border, but he does not agree with how President Trump’s administration is handling the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“No one cares more about border security than those of us who live there. But when we think about those who made that 2,000-mile journey, fleeing the deadliest countries on the face of the planet, doing what we would all do faced with the same decision, no wall, no militarization, no cages, no cruelty is going to address that,” O’Rourke said.
The former Texas congressman expressed support for more financial aid in “violence reduction” programs in Central America.
“Do you think we are a nation of borders, though?” host Meghan McCain asked.
“Yes, we are a nation of laws. That border must be respected,” O’Rourke said.
“Not only do those walls not manage the situation, they also contribute to death and suffering. Thousands of immigrants and asylum-seekers have died as we have built out more walls and fences, pushing them to even more remote stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border,” he said.
During an interview with MSNBC in February, O’Rourke said he was in favor of tearing down the border walls in El Paso and he thinks a referendum to do so would pass in the city.
