Fox News "The Story" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Dan Crenshaw
Interview
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
MACCALLUM: Griff Jenkins, thank you very much, Griff.
So here now with more, Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw of Texas. Congressman, welcome. Good to have you back on The Story tonight. Thanks for being here --
(CROSSTALK)
REP. DAN CRENSHAW, R-TX: Thank you for having me.
MACCALLUM: -- on State of the Union night. What's your reaction to what you see there?
CRENSHAW: Well, it's an indication that we need to be working with Mexico on this issue. I have written about this in the past where they need to be our partners on this. They have just as much of an interest in securing their border as we do.
I was down on the border this past weekend and one thing I noticed was the secure fencing on our side but also on their side because border security matters to every country. It's how we -- it's how we implement our rule of law. It's how we maintain our sovereignty.
MACCALLUM: Yes. He was talking about the Rio Grande area which is really where the majority or the plurality, I guess, 40 percent of the illegal traffic comes right through that area. And you say there's always been a plan for that area.
CRENSHAW: Right. Border patrol agents have been putting forth their requests on where they believe they need additional fencing, where they believe they need additional technology. Drones, sensor technology and more personnel.
This isn't some new plan. This is what I want everyone to understand. President Trump didn't just make this up out of the blue that $5.7 billion came from somewhere. It came from experts at the Department of Homeland Security. It always has.
And I think that's the big miscommunication that's occurred in the public discourse about this. It's more than just laws. It's also additional technology. It's additional detention facilities and additional immigration judges. This is a multifaceted approach.
There are three prongs to this. Infrastructure, personnel, technology but then the legal side too. All right? Can we adjudicate these cases quickly and turn them around so there is no incentive to bring kids across the border and stay here?
MACCALLUM: Yes. We have spoken with Leader McConnell earlier. And he was talking about the fact that these experts are going to come in and talk to the members of the conferees and, you know, give them the very latest on this as well.
And then there is news this evening that Mick Mulvaney the chief of staff is potentially meeting with some Democrats at Camp David this weekend. You know, what's your sense of your Democratic colleagues and how they are really feeling about this situation? Are they with Nancy Pelosi or are they starting to think that maybe there is some sense here?
CRENSHAW: Well, they're split. You know, in private I have many, many Democrats who said when I showed them the plan that we were actually talking about not some 2,000-mile wall but the actual plan. You know, they would say I'm not against that but we don't want to talk about it while the government is closed. OK. Fair enough in the government is open now.
And so, let's actually talk about this and explain to us why you might be against this because really what we are talking about with this additional fencing is just -- it's an ongoing operation that's been going on ever since the Secure Fence Act of 2006. So, there is a lot who should be on board. If they said they were. Let's vote that way.
MACCALLUM: So, there's always a lot of guests in the hall --
CRENSHAW: Yes.
MACCALLUM: -- on State of the Union night. People bring people who represent a cause that they are very interested in. Who are you bringing?
CRENSHAW: Well, you know, everybody is free to bring whoever they want to make a political statement. I am making a big statement as well, that I want my beautiful wife to be there. So, it's our first State of the Union together.
MACCALLUM: She is a cause you believe in.
CRENSHAW: Absolutely. I better. Yes.
MACCALLUM: That's great. We will be looking for you and your beautiful wife as everyone files in. Thank you very much, Congressman Crenshaw.
CRENSHAW: Thanks for having me, Martha.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source