Sputnik discussed the issue with Michael R. Shannon, political commentator, Newsmax and Cagle Syndicate columnist, author of the book "A Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times."
Sputnik: What is behind the massive influx of migrants heading to the US?
If I was curator of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, I would tell C-SPAN to have a camera on this caravan 24 hours a day so people could mark its progress.
Sputnik: The caravan might reach the US border within a week; what could be done to avoid a crisis in the smoothest way?
Michael R. Shannon: I don’t think a country that is being invaded has any sort of responsibility to repel the invasion smoothly. I have often thought that two words would answer this – water cannon.
These people are mostly unaccompanied young men, they have an incredible sense of entitlement that we owe them something; they’re burning our flag. When was the last time you heard of a caravan of well-intentioned people burning the flag of the country they intend to enter? We owe them nothing.
Sputnik: Mr. Trump and his fellow Republicans have sought to make the caravan and the migration campaign issues ahead of the midterm elections in which his party is fighting to maintain control of the US Senate and the House of Representatives. Do you think the caravan issue will help Republicans strengthen their position in the Senate?
Michael R. Shannon: I think it will help Republicans in any area where voters are concerned about national sovereignty, our borders and keeping criminals out of the country.
I think it will help [them] in the Senate, I also think it will help [them] in some House races.
Sputnik: The US leader threatened to cut aid to Central American nations over their failure to stop the migrant caravan; how efficient is this measure?
This represents billions of dollars to Latin America. I would put a temporary ban on those because of the emergency situation. I would cut off all foreign aid; I would explain to every country that facilitated passage of this illegal act would pay a penalty for it.
I think that would get their attention.
Sputnik: The Trump administration condemned the unwillingness to support tougher border measures by the Democrats as a root cause for the influx of migrants; how much does this correspond to the truth?
Michael R. Shannon: 100%. Democrats have blocked any consideration of a border wall; they have blocked consideration of tougher enforcement.
They file lawsuits against asylum changes and refugee procedure changes. The Republicans are not without sin in this particular area because a lot of them are funded by cheap labor capitalists who like these people coming in, because it means they can have Juarez wages in the middle of the US.
A lot of Republicans are helping them; but 100% opposition to stronger border enforcement comes from Democrats. So, the President is correct.
Michael R. Shannon: There are criminals.
Anyone that wants to come across the border illegally is de facto a criminal. He was also referring to [the fact that] many of these people have already been previously deported, so it’s illegal for them to come.
The President of Honduras also said that some of the people in this caravan were Middle Eastern, and President Trump referred to that. Of course, I don’t know how accurate President of Honduras is, but he did say that and he’s closer than I am.
Views and opinions expressed in this article are those of Michael R. Shannon and do not necessarily reflect those of Sputnik.
