Presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday the migrant influx at the southern U.S. border is “not sustainable” and pledged to fix it overnight if he is elected.
Mr. Kennedy, an independent, said as president he would plug “27 big gaps” in border barriers where many migrants are coming through while restoring sensors and other equipment to monitor the border.
“The border patrol is utterly demoralized, you could stop this very quickly and there doesn’t seem to be any interest in the Biden administration in doing it,” Mr. Kennedy told “Fox and Friends.”
“We need asylum judges on the border to adjudicate the cases there,” he said, adding that people with asylum claims must remain in Mexico while their claims are processed.
Mr. Kennedy is running as an independent as the U.S. electorate prepares for a rematch between President Biden and Republican front-runner Donald Trump.
Recent Gallup polling shows 43% of Americans identify as an independent versus 27% apiece who identify as a Democrat or Republican.
Mr. Kennedy said it is a sign that people are fed up with the two-party system.
“I think more and more people are seeing how corrupt it is,” Mr. Kennedy said. “Both parties [are] receiving money from the same groups, and it’s rigged against the American public.”
Mr. Kennedy said he plans to be on the ballot in all 50 states in November, though he is mainly seen as a potential spoiler.
As the son of the late Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, he is the scion of a Democratic family and may siphon liberal votes from Mr. Biden. He also has tapped into environmental issues that could appeal to young voters.
However, he is also known for raising doubts about vaccines — something that could appeal to conservatives after the COVID-19 crisis and debate around shot mandates, taking away support from Mr. Trump.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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