Pennsylvania Democrat Senator John Fetterman publicly lambasted his own party Monday for what he described as a severe mishandling of the illegal immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Speaking during a Fox Nation debate against Republican Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick, Fetterman asserted that his emphasis on border security had cost him support within his party, yet he stood firm in his conviction that the issue was paramount.
Fetterman, when discussing the record-high border encounters witnessed throughout the Biden administration, labeled them “unacceptable” and a direct threat to national security.
He specifically referenced a “big, beautiful bill”—a major spending package backed by President Donald Trump—as containing necessary investments for border security.
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“If I had to find something in that big, beautiful bill that I could support, and that’s the mistake that our party made and that’s the border,” Fetterman stated. “I absolutely support those kinds of investments to make our border security as well now too. Our party, that’s when I’ve lost some support in my party, I thought the border was really important. And our party did not handle the border appropriately.”
He further underscored the scale of the problem, citing figures of 260,000 to 300,000 people “showing up at our border,” a number he equated to the size of Pittsburgh. “Now that’s unacceptable and that’s a national security issue and that’s chaos,” Fetterman emphasized.
The “big, beautiful bill” in question allocates over $100 billion to border security and additional resources, including $46.5 billion for border wall construction, $4.1 billion to hire Border Patrol agents, and a $1,000 fee for asylum seekers.
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During Trump’s first full month of his second term, border apprehensions reportedly plummeted to historically low levels, with Border Patrol agents apprehending a mere 8,347 illegal migrants. This marked a dramatic 94% decrease from the 140,641 illegal migrants apprehended in February 2024, when Biden was still in office.
While the Biden administration consistently maintained that congressional action was necessary to secure the border, the Trump administration has demonstrated a capacity to manage the border effectively without explicit congressional aid.
Fetterman’s recent remarks highlight a growing bipartisan acknowledgment of the critical nature of border security and could signal a shift in the Democratic party’s approach to the ongoing crisis.
Bridging The Gap
In a powerful display of transcending partisan divides, Senator Fetterman, in May, made an impassioned plea to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a Senate hearing. He urged her assistance in securing a green card for an Afghan surgeon residing in Philadelphia, whom he hailed as a “hero” for saving American lives during the war in Afghanistan. The plea was received with grace and understanding, demonstrating a willingness to work together.
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In a departure from typical partisan sparring, Senator Fetterman, a Democrat known for his outspoken stance on immigration, began by acknowledging his party’s “failure to secure our border” and the “political price” they deserve to pay. He then emphasized his desire to find common ground and work collaboratively with Secretary Noem, despite their differing political affiliations.
“I’m not here for fireworks or to try to create something to be clipped on TV,” Fetterman stated, underscoring his genuine appeal. “I’m honestly coming, you know, asking for your help about a situation here.”
The senator then introduced the case of “Ramin,” an Afghan surgeon now living in Philadelphia. Fetterman explained that Ramin “served alongside our service members there in the war” and “saved American lives.” He elaborated that Ramin “helped evacuate our forces through an airlift” and is awaiting green card approval. Fetterman also spoke of the plight of Ramin’s brothers trapped in Pakistan and facing “torture and death” if returned to Afghanistan due to their commitment to a “free and Democratic Afghanistan” and their service to American forces.
He expressed concern that these individuals may have been “caught up in the middle” of executive orders suspending refugee resettlement. “I believe they deserve to be here for the sacrifices and what they’ve put at risk,” Fetterman asserted, directly appealing to Secretary Noem for her office’s cooperation in bringing these “Afghan Heroes” to the United States. He reiterated that his vote for Secretary Noem was partly driven by his belief in the need to help those who have served at “amazing, great risk.”
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Secretary Noem responded positively to Senator Fetterman’s request, assuring him, “We will certainly work with your office on those specific cases.” She noted that DHS has already granted status to 8,000 individuals with similar circumstances and acknowledged the importance of vetting, which she believed had already been thoroughly completed for the individuals Fetterman described.
“It sounds like the individuals that, you know, have been thoroughly vetted in partnership with the United States, and so that that is, uh, something that we’ll look at, and we’ll certainly work with you on recognizing their service to our country,” Secretary Noem affirmed.
“I would be profoundly grateful if my office could work with your team, and perhaps even with state as well, too,” Fetterman concluded, emphasizing the shared pursuit of truth and solutions, regardless of political affiliation, “Because there are truth, and it is not owned by one side or the other.”
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