Far-right representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has become infamous for her inflammatory rhetoric. With her recent call for the impeachment of the Secretary of Homeland Security, she has once again become the subject of online criticism.
The Incident
On December 27, MTG reposted a viral video on X, formerly known as Twitter. The footage showed a large crowd of migrants trekking through Mexico, headed for the border with the U.S.
MTG’s Comments
In her post, MTG claimed the caravan of migrants was almost 15,000 strong. She claimed that the “Biden admin is the best business partner the cartels have ever had.”
Strong Accusations
“The Biden admin border policies,” continued MTG, “are treasonous and have created the worst national security crisis in history! Impeach Mayorkas!”
Who is Mayorkas?
Alejandro Mayorkas is the Secretary of Homeland Security. He was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021, and previously served in the Department of Homeland Security under former President Barack Obama.
Fact Check
According to NBC News, the group of migrants featured in the video MTG shared has about 7,500 people. That’s a large group, but far smaller than what MTG claimed.
Immigration
Immigration is one of the key issues facing the U.S. Republicans have repeatedly accused the Biden administration of allowing the situation at the border to devolve into a crisis.
The Border Situation
Encounters between border officials and illegal immigrants have indeed risen in the last couple of years. In December, such encounters reached 250,000.
Put in Context
While immigration is undoubtedly increasing, it’s not at record levels, at least relative to the population already residing in the U.S. In 1900, for example, when the population was only about 76 million, more than 8 million immigrants were admitted into the U.S., equating to more than 600,000 per month.
Trump’s Comments
Former President Donald Trump has drawn criticism for his extreme comments in regards to immigration. His claim that illegal immigrants are “poisoning the blood” of America, for example, echoes the rhetoric of infamous white supremacists like Madison Grant.
Dictator for a Day
Trump also asserted that he would stop illegal immigration if elected president by becoming a “dictator” for one day.
Online Criticism
MTG’s tweet drew various derisive comments from online users. One user asked, “Which law have you [proposed] to fix the Border issue?”
Further Criticism
“Maybe you guys should [return] from winter break and legislate,” another user responded. “Republicans always use the caravans as a fear tactic to scare the base,” another commented. “It’s like clockwork every election.”
Controversial Politician
MTG is one of the more controversial politicians in Congress today. Her inflammatory remarks have drawn criticism from both parties, and in 2021 prompted several Republicans to join Democrats in removing her from all of her committee roles.
