The open borders mantra from Republicans is a “myth” according to Axios. Yes really. It’s all in our heads or something. You see, according to Axis, the border is more fortified, yes FORTIFIED now more than ever.

As the Biden administration grapples with the soaring number of migrants and asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, conservative pundits and politicians have upped accusations that some Democrats support “open border” policies.

The big picture: By using the term “open border,” conservatives — including Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who is seeking the role of House speaker — are suggesting that anyone can get into the U.S. without much hassle. But the reality is that the southern border is more fortified than it’s ever been.

Reality check: Since 1992, the U.S. has quadrupled the number of Border Patrol agents — from less than 5,000 to nearly 20,000 today.

Barriers, walls, and fences have been erected along portions of the 1,951-mile U.S.-Mexico border, in addition to new Border Patrol outposts and high-tech surveillance systems.

The Border Patrol regularly breaks border arrest records, highlighting the difficulty of entering the country illegally.

Most recently, Biden decided to go forward with a border wall in South Texas.

Lines at ports of entry have gotten longer because of new requirements to enter the U.S., putting pressure to expand hours at newer ports of entry like the one in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

In the realm of gaslighting, this one is an Academy Award contender. Did the author, Russell Contreras even READ what he wrote? His reading comprehension is in the basement evidently. 

Let’s look at the above and take a more realistic look. The soaring number of migrants good ole Russell speaks of involves immigration records being broken on a near daily basis. There’s nothing and I mean NOTHING applause worthy about coming to the realization that the sheer number of illegal immigrants in this country mirrors the population of 36 states! Do you know how many illegals came through the border checkpoints? 7.2 MILLION

That does not include the numbers of those who have slipped through the cracks. We have exactly ZERO idea of how many have evaded our border patrol and are slinking through the United States right now. 

Russell would like us to ignore the fact that Joe Biden, on his first day in office, stopped all border WALL construction. Then, the numbers of illegals showing up at the border skyrocketed. Suddenly, a wall was necessary. But only walls that the Biden Administration builds. When Texas started putting up walls, they got sued. 

Now let’s look at another part of this Axios the ‘border is a myth’ report. According to Contreras, it’s a myth that no one can enter the United States hassle free. Oh REALLY? Supposedly the requirements for entry are MUCH stricter these days. I’m sure Lakin Riley’s family will be so reassured of that fact. 

This is an illegal immigrant who either should still be in a detention center or back in Venezuela. 

Police announced that Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen and was not a student at UGA nor did he know Riley personally. According to multiple DHS sources, he is here illegally from Venezuela. Sources confirm he crossed in September of 2022 into El Paso, Texas, and was released due to lack of detention space.

Yet Axios would have us believe that the rules for entering the U.S. are much more strict these days than ever before. Tell that to U.S. citizens on the Northern border who are dealing with an escalated influx of illegals due to strained resources and Canada’s easy peasy immigration rules. 

Furthermore, if the open borders are a myth, why have sanctuary cities such as Chicago and New York been throwing fits for weeks on end about the influx and the skyrocketing costs of illegal immigration impacting those cities? And no, Mayor Adams, I certainly don’t think an open-ended contract involving handing debit cards to illegals is going to help. Denver is cutting services all over the place in order to funnel money to handle the illegal immigration problems the city is experiencing.

Do you think parents who send their kids off to UGA (presumably a safe place away from home) are aware that Athens-Clarke County is a Sanctuary Community (1 of only 3 in GA) serving as a magnet for the type of illegal immigrant who brutally murdered Laken Riley?

— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) February 24, 2024

Yet Axios is here to tell us again that open borders are a “myth.” Paging San Diego and the state of California…

NEW: We were live on the air as the first of many Border Patrol buses began arriving and mass releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants to San Diego’s streets. We spoke to many of them live – they are from all around the world and they are planning to go to blue cities in U.S. pic.twitter.com/7AZlNL0TFP

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 23, 2024

The numbers tell a VERY different story. 

“open border” is the appropriate term considering CBP numbers

Migrant encounters on the southern border:
Biden: 7,200,000+
Trump: 2,373,203
Obama (2nd term): 2,148,347
Source: CBP

— Sean Agnew (@seanagnew) February 24, 2024

Here’s a reminder of what was happening in 2022 at the totally fine southern border.

This is what was happening back when Ibarra crossed into El Paso in September of 2022, “U.S. Border Patrol has been so overwhelmed in the region and the shelters are at capacity — One processing center is three times above its normal capacity, nonprofit shelters are starving for…

— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) February 24, 2024

Furthermore, if things are so fabulous at the border, and the open borders mantra is just that, then how come several governors are calling for tougher measures and stronger enforcement?

Keep in mind, Joe Biden himself is on record admitting that illegal immigration is out of control and the border is very insecure. 

One last point:

Super fortified! https://t.co/nicCZ1UVpD pic.twitter.com/MdH9so09E2

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 24, 2024

Yes Russell, you might want to go find a dictionary and look up the definition of “fortified.” And, Russell wasn’t a fan of Bill’s tweet, so he blocked him. Childish much?

There is a major problem at both our borders. It isn’t a myth, it’s reality. And all the gaslighting from the media won’t change that fact. 

Feature Photo Credit: border wall, flag, immigrations via iStock, cropped and modified