Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed his intention to adopt far stricter border control measures if elected president.
Speaking at the National Sheriffs’ Association’s annual convention this week, the independent candidate criticized President Biden’s current border policies and suggested reinstating several measures from former President Donald Trump’s administration.
“I’m going to seal the border,” Mr. Kennedy said. “It’s easily solvable.”
Mr. Kennedy proposed the construction of a border wall, the hiring of 2,600 additional border agents, and the appointment of 300 immigration judges at the border.
He also advocated for the revival of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, a Trump-era policy that required asylum seekers who cross the southern border to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed in the U.S. courts.
He clarified that it is unnecessary to fence the entire 2,200-mile border but stressed the importance of barriers in regions frequently crossed by migrants. “You need a fence, you need obstacles” in these areas, he said.
Mr. Kennedy also addressed the challenges faced by the Border Patrol, noting the need to hire thousands more agents to replace those who have left during Mr. Biden’s tenure. He emphasized that increasing the number of immigration judges could reduce the lengthy waiting periods for hearings and asylum claims.
While advocating for stricter border controls, Mr. Kennedy also expressed support for legal immigration and the simplification of pathways to U.S. citizenship. He acknowledged the need for more workers in America and suggested that immigrants could help fill this gap.
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