Representative Mike Turner, a Republican from Ohio, expressed his disagreement with former President Donald Trump’s remarks regarding migrants made during a rally on Saturday.
Amid bipartisan criticism of President Joe Biden’s handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, Turner highlighted concerns over the surge in migrant border crossings, which reached over 2.4 million encounters during the 2023 fiscal year.
Republicans attribute the increase in migrants to Biden’s border policies, arguing that they incentivize illegal immigration. However, others point to factors such as political and financial instability in certain Central American countries as drivers of migration to the U.S.
During Trump’s rally in Ohio, he faced backlash for remarks suggesting that some undocumented immigrants are “not human” and for unfounded claims about other countries releasing criminals into the U.S. Turner, appearing on ABC News’ This Week, stated his disagreement with Trump’s language regarding migrants.
Despite this, Turner emphasized that Trump is seen as the candidate best positioned to address the border crisis. While Turner acknowledged differences in opinion on Trump’s statements, he underscored the urgency of addressing the border situation, which he attributed to the Biden administration’s policies.
Turner, who endorsed Trump in December, emphasized the need for effective action to resolve the crisis at the border.