Laredo, TX—Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement regarding President Trump’s visit to South Texas to visit his border wall:

“The fact that the president is traveling to the southern border to see his failed attempt of a border wall, shows exactly where his priorities lie. We should be focused on saving lives by ensuring every community has access to the COVID-19 vaccine. We should be focused on supporting small businesses on the border who have been struggling since March due to restrictions on so-called ‘non-essential’ travel. We should be focused on healing our nation from the horrific events that took place at the Capitol, which he helped incite.

“Unless he is coming down to focus on these critical issues, he is not welcome here. South Texas deserves better. America deserves better.

“His finished product of about 25 miles of new border barrier has failed to do its job: stop or deter migrants from crossing the border. However, in efforts to fulfill his campaign promise, President Trump has wasted our hard-earned tax dollars, destroyed wildlife and public lands, jeopardized historical landmarks, and seized private land. On January 20^th, we can begin to remedy the extraordinary challenges border communities have faced over the last four years due to the Trump administration’s insistence on constructing this ineffective and wasteful border wall. Working with the President-elect Biden administration, I am committed to restoring effective border security policies, which does not include any border barrier, as well as prioritizing American lives and livelihoods during this pandemic.”