Politics - News Analysis

Ted Cruz Tells Migrants In Caravan To ‘Kick In The Door’ Of Homes Of Beto O’Rourke Supporters

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is days away from midterm elections that promise to challenge his tight hold on his Texas Senate seat. In a race that has been shockingly competitive, Cruz has decided to echo President Trump’s tactics, attacking his opponent Democrat Beto O’Rourke and his supporters.

Cruz jumped on the fear train, railing against immigrants in the final days of his campaign. Cruz claimed, without any factual basis or support, that his opponent, Beto O’Rourke has used his campaign funds to illegally pay for the migrant “caravan” heading toward the southern border.

According to the Los Angeles Times, an estimated 7,000 migrants crossed from Guatemala into Mexico, in a matter of days, the group shrunk to around 4,000 people. It remains unclear how many migrants will actually make it to the United States. A similar “caravan last spring began with over 1,000 people, of that number, only a few hundred arrived at the United States border with Mexico. The migrants intend to seek asylum in the United States and remain weeks if not longer away from the United States.

The reality, that there is no threat posed to the United States by the desperate, impoverished, unarmed men women and children who are walking from Central America to the US, is not appealing to Republicans. So instead of talking about truth, the president and Cruz spread fear and lies.

Cruz linked to a right-wing website and made outlandish claims against O’Rourke. Cruz tweeted, “Two basic Qs every reporter should ask Beto today: (1) should the “caravan” be allowed to cross illegally into Texas? (Beto refuses to answer.) And (2) did your campaign dollars illegally fund their doing so?”

During a campaign rally, Cruz said that the migrants heading through Mexico are not welcome in the US, but that if they do enter illegally, they should go directly to O’Rourke supporters’ homes for help. Purportedly talking to the migrants, Cruz said, “When you get here, we have identified homes, that are willing to take you in to give you free housing, free food, free health care.” Cruz continued, “And every one of these homes is self-identified with a little black and white sign that says Beto. Don’t bother knocking, just kick the door and they don’t believe in walls, so just let yourself in, and make yourself at home.”

meet the author

Nicole Hickman James is a lifelong Democrat and political activist who first cut her teeth as a teenager volunteering for Mike Dukakis’ presidential campaign. She has worked and volunteered for John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, HFA (Hillary For America), and Organizing For Action. She’s passionate about liberal and progressive causes and considers President Obama her favorite president ever. She holds her Bachelor’s from Boston College in Economics and her Master's from Columbia, also in Economics. When not working as a writer, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her three college-aged children.

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