New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday partly blamed US sanctions targeting Venezuela’s dictatorial regime for the migrant crisis plaguing the Big Apple and the country.
“The U.S. sanctions that were originally authored by Marco Rubio … certainly played a big part in pushing people to our southern border,” the Democratic socialist told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, referring to the Republican Florida senator.
The 33-year-old congressman argued that the recent US border surge happened “shortly after the sweeping restrictions were enacted.”
He later admitted that socialist Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was “fully” responsible for the entry as well.
Maduro, a member of Venezuela’s United Socialist Party, came to power in the country in 2013 and has presided over a massive economic collapse, with hyperinflation exceeding triple digits.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — here recently speaking next to Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey on climate change — has long favored a softer policy toward undocumented immigrants and immigrants coming to the US.Allison Bailey/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Moreover, its special forces have initiated thousands of extrajudicial killings, according to the United Nations.
Supporters of US sanctions targeting Maduro’s allies argue that they are a penalty for human rights atrocities taking place in Venezuela.
Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described Democratic socialist, thinks it’s time to reevaluate those punitive measures.
“I think we need to re-examine the nature of the restrictions,” he said.
Migrants crossed Mexico’s Rio Grande river into the United States before being arrested on September 22. James Keivom
Many migrants have crossed dangerous terrain and barbed wire with limited supplies to reach the US.James Keivom
More than 110,000 immigrants have poured into New York City since the spring of 2022, with many of them flooding homeless shelters and other sites as the Big Apple groans under their weight.
Earlier this month, the AOC was showered with jeers during a press conference on the migration crisis that has gripped the city.
Mayor Eric Adams has appealed to the Biden administration for help, arguing that the city’s services are lagging behind.
President Biden notably did not meet with Adams during a stop in Manhattan last week for the United Nations General Assembly.
At the national level, the country has also been gripped by the crisis.
Authorities have conducted more than 2.86 million border encounters with immigrants so far in fiscal year 2023, which ends Sept. 30, according to US Customs and Border Patrol.
The figure has surpassed the record-breaking 2.77 million from last fiscal year.
Ocasio-Cortez also weighed in Sunday on another hot political issue.
At one point, he called on Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to step down as he faces three new charges of corruption — charges he denies.
Venezuelan immigrants Yonder Urbina (in white T-shirt) and Jesus Rodriguez carry their 1-year-old son through the current of the river.James Keivom
Polls show many Americans have an unfavorable view of how the border crisis has been handled. James Keivom
Honduran migrant Maria Argentina, an amputee, and daughter, Nathalie Virginia, 2, crossed the Rio Grande river from Mexico to the United States on Sunday.James Keivom
“Regardless of whether Republican or Democrat, the details in these allegations are very serious,” he said.
He also plans to ditch the non-union Tesla for another union-produced electric vehicle brand.
AOC previously said in May 2022 – after a Twitter discussion with Tesla boss Elon Musk in which the billionaire CEO playfully teased him to “stop hitting on me” – that he would trade in his Tesla.
.@AOC said he drives a non-union Tesla because he bought it during the pandemic, “before some of the new models” of electric vehicles now available.
“We’re actually looking at trading in our cars right now,” he said.
“Hopefully we will soon.” pic.twitter.com/69LrefYv01
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) September 24, 2023
“We [Tesla] was purchased during the outbreak … before the vaccine was released,” the congressman said Sunday.
“So the journey between New York and Washington — the safest way we’ve determined is [a Tesla] EV, but that’s before some new models come out in the market that have range available,” he added.
“We’re actually looking into trading in our cars right now.”
More than 110,000 immigrants have poured into New York City since spring 2022. James Keivom
Many Democrats have been frustrated with Teslas because of Elon Musk’s penchant for the political right and his lack of unification.Shutterstock
Elon Musk has publicly insulted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the past.AFP via Getty Images
Ocasio-Cortez has clashed with Musk in the past and is a vocal supporter of the United Auto Workers union strike that began earlier this month.
Musk has practically dared the UAW to try to unionize at Tesla factories in the past.
But so far, that has not materialized.
Thousands of UAW members are now protesting Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Stellantis, Chrysler’s parent company.
President Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to make a showdown near where some workers are on strike later this week.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
