Don’t let GOP drive the border narrative

There is still time to fight back, Democrats. Don’t let Republicans keep highjacking this debate with “border invasion” rhetoric.

And no, Democrats, you don’t fight back by panicking over Title 42 or any other mechanism to keep asylum seekers out of America.

That only spells defeat. And Republicans already are smelling blood at the ballot box in Arizona and across the nation in this year’s midterms.

I’m dismayed by the defeatist approach of U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.

The senators and other vulnerable Democrats don’t want President Biden to end Title 42, the Trump-era public health rule, without a plan to handle the asylum seekers it has removed from the country.

Their criticism, coupled with Biden’s wavering about extending Title 42 beyond the self-imposed May 23 deadline, is handing Republicans another club to bludgeon them.

They’re pointing to the Democrats’ split to fuel the public outcry over “Biden’s chaotic border crisis,” and voters appear to be responding to the rhetoric that Republicans are feeding them.

Here’s how to beat Republicans at their own game. Don’t be cagey or shy about talking about the “border crisis.” Face it head-on.

Is there a real border crisis? Immigration agents have apprehended 900,000 migrants at the border since October. In March alone, agents stopped 221,303 migrants, a 33% increase from a month earlier.

These numbers are there for everyone to see. They are compiled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency overseeing border enforcement, so they’re legit.

But the agency, Democrats and, yes, the media have failed to clarify often enough that each apprehension doesn’t equate to a unique person.

The same person may be caught attempting to cross the border several times. That’s due, in part, to Title 42.

At least 1.7 million people have been expelled under Title 42 since 2020, when Trump invoked the rule to curb the spread of COVID-19. But some of those expelled migrants turned around and reentered the country, becoming repeat offenders.

Again, the data show the number of times people are apprehended, not unique people. Biden should to do a better job explaining the difference.

Biden and fellow Democrats must not hide. They must acknowledge that there are indeed more asylum seekers showing up at the border and explain why that is – just like they’re doing with Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn country.

Being cagey gives credence to the Republican drumbeat that foreigners are invading America to harm us and take over our jobs.

Being cagey is not sound policy. Democrats must hit Republicans on the “border invasion” rhetoric, and time is running out.

They must honestly and aggressively explain to voters what really is happening at our southern border.

Democrats also must urgently answer this question from progressives — a good chunk of their base: Where do they stand on immigration?

“We know where Republicans stand on immigrants and refugees,” Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, said.

He continued: “They are waging a relentless scorched-earth war against immigrants ... They want to block legislation that would put undocumented immigrants on a path to citizenship, keep out refugees, and slash levels and categories for the admission of legal immigrants.”

How about you, Democrats? Where do you stand on immigration?

The answer isn’t Title 42, even if that’s the only mechanism being touted to deal with the current migration surge. The answer has to be more profound, based on core values of what America means to us and its role in the world.

Don’t give up, Democrats. Put up a good fight, speaking convincingly about America’s immigrant legacy. Don’t cede to Republicans slamming the door on foreigners.

Nobody will give you credit, Democrats, if you’re dodgy, if you don’t put out sound plans to deal with asylum seekers.

Don’t hide. Go to the border, like Republicans do. Show the good, the bad and the ugly that comes out of the 2,000-mile international southern border.