Former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) warned on Monday that individuals coming across the United States border with Mexico might not be harmless day laborers.
While speaking about terrorism and Benghazi at The Heritage Foundation on Tuesday, West, a contributor to Fox News and PJ Media‘s “Next Generation TV,” explained that the United States might be at risk because of terrorists infiltrating the U.S. via its border with Mexico.
“Because of the fact that we have such an open border here in the United States of America, not everyone is coming into this country to mow our grass, fix our roofs or babysit our children, ok?” he told the audience. “Hezbollah is working with Mexican drug cartels.”
Recently, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) claimed that while some of the young people brought here by their parents illegally are successful students, others are drug runners.
“For every one who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there that weigh 130 pounds, and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert,” King told Newsmax back in July.
King was immediately criticized for his remark from both sides of the aisle, with Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) calling it “deeply offensive and wrong.” The Iowa Congressman stood by his remarks, however, even after a group of young immigrants delivered melons to his office in protest.
West’s remarks could strike the same chord, as he seemed to be implying that illegal immigrants who aren’t manual laborers or babysitters are secret terrorists — a comment that those in favor of immigration reform will most likely find offensive.
A spokeswoman for West said the former Congressman could not be reached for comment before press time.
