Minnesota Republicans travel south for firsthand look at Biden's border policies

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border Friday, saying on Twitter he went to "see the southern border crisis firsthand."

He is one of many members of Congress headed south, with GOP Rep. Jim Hagedorn announcing Friday that he would also visit Texas to survey intake and processing sites and parts of the border wall.

"President Biden's rejection of the successful border policies implemented by President Trump and Republicans in Congress has spurred a flood of unvetted and unscreened illegal aliens to enter our Country," Hagedorn said in a statement. Republicans have contended Congress should put additional dollars toward border security rather than bolstering the U.S. Capitol.

Stauber tweeted Friday that pecan farmers told him their fears about safety and "heart-wrenching stories of helping migrants." Stauber's spokeswoman said Biden's policies are motivating migrants to make a "perilous journey."

Meanwhile, the U.N. refugee agency urged the Biden administration Thursday to lift public health-related asylum restrictions at the border and restore access for asylum-seekers.

Democrats have also been visiting the border. Rep. Ilhan Omar went to a resettlement facility for unaccompanied children in March, and has since urged the Biden administration to allow more refugee admissions and not expand the border wall.

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