Sen. Ted Cruz utilized his podcast recently to provide his listeners with a frightening sounding tale. To hear the Texas Republican inform it, the Biden administration “chartered flights” in order to “import 320,000 unlawful aliens” into the United States.
As the senator most likely understood, the claims were hugely deceptive, however that didn’t stop Cruz from sending a fundraising appeal today, under a “Biden is flying illegals into America” subject line. The message to donors checked out in part:
“The Biden administration’s ‘service’ to reduce crossings at our southern border was to put 320,000 unlawful immigrants on secret flights into cities throughout America! You can’t make this things up.”
That last line– “You can’t make this things up”– was of specific interest since, as it ends up, the GOP senator was making things up.
Off the bat, while Cruz would have individuals think we’re talking about undocumented immigrants, the reality, as an Associated Press report just recently described, is far more benign. The Biden administration produced a “humanitarian parole” program that enables Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to remain in the U.S. for 2 years, however individuals– who have legal authorization to be here– should use online with a monetary sponsor, and they should be evaluated, vetted, and licensed for travel.
When it comes to the concept that these are “secret flights,” in truth, there’s absolutely nothing secret about any of this: U.S. Customs and Border Protection has actually promoted the program and openly revealed the information on the firm’s site. Cruz and other Republicans have actually tossed fits, not since of “secret” information, however due to the fact that of openly offered details the Biden administration has actually put online.
The Texas senator likewise referenced the Biden administration’s “chartered flights,” without keeping in mind that individuals in the program are accountable for paying their own method, so American taxpayers aren’t on the hook for the expenses.
Simply as significantly, while the Republican declared the president is “importing” individuals, and “putting” migrants on aircrafts, a New York Times report kept in mind, the migrants in concern are needed to schedule their own travel on business flights.
Or put another method, while Cruz marveled to fans that the program is so over-the-top that “you can’t make this things up,” he handled to get practically every pertinent information incorrect.
The Republican incumbent– who’s dealing with a trustworthy difficulty in the Lone Star State this year– has actually currently made a credibility as one of Congress’ most careless purveyors of false information. If Cruz intends to shake that credibility, he’s entering the incorrect instructions.
Steve Benen
Steve Benen is a manufacturer for “The Rachel Maddow Show,” the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political factor. He’s likewise the bestselling author of “The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics.”
