Lankford claims Middle Easterners in past migrant caravans
As President Donald Trump partially backed away from his claim this week that Middle Easterners have infiltrated a migrant caravan moving through Mexico, U.S. Sen. James Lankford said the president’s theory was not a random or unfounded accusation.
“We’ve seen several folks that are coming from the Middle East and from different areas of Asia getting into the human smuggling caravans that do move from Central America up into the United States,” the Republican senator told reporters Tuesday in Oklahoma City, referring to past caravans, not one currently heading toward the U.S. border.
“We’ve been able to pick those up, both in Guatemala and in Honduras, and in Mexico often. We’ve seen some of those here . ... It’s not large numbers but that’s not just some random theory or accusation. That has been factually proven to be true,” Lankford said.
The caravan of migrants fleeing hardships in Central America has made its way into southern Mexico. It remains at least 1,000 miles from its destination, the American border, but has nonetheless become a topic of political discussion in the U.S. as the Nov. 6 midterm elections near.
Trump, a hardline conservative on immigration, has spoken and tweeted about the caravan often. On Monday, he claimed “criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in” with Central Americans moving north. He backtracked slightly Tuesday, saying there was “no proof of anything” when pressed by reporters. But he added “there very well could be” Middle Easterners in the caravan.
Scott Simpson with Muslim Advocates, a civil rights group, said in a statement that Trump’s claims are unfounded and absurd fear mongering.
“It doesn’t matter what their skin color is or how they worship, the nation should follow the law and hear their (asylum) claims,” Simpson said. “President Trump is inflaming bigotry, and that threatens the very basic freedoms and rights we all hold dear.”
Lankford, who often agrees with Trump on policies but not the president’s bellicose style, said he has spoken with the presidents of Guatemala and Honduras in the past and heard concerns about Middle Easterners traveling with previous migrant caravans.
“Their concern is there will be terrorists who will move through their countries, come into the United States and carry out an attack and then they will be blamed for not actually enforcing the law,” the senator said.
Lankford has shown a willingness to work with Democrats and moderate Republicans on areas of immigration policy, such as protecting socalled Dreamers, young immigrants who arrived in the United States illegally as children.
He said caravan participants are not asylum seekers and should request entry into the U.S. through the usual, legal avenues.
“You don’t just come to a border and demand entry into any country and say, ‘Hey, I want a job, so you have to be able to let me in,’” Lankford said.