U.S. Border Patrol Chief: ‘All the Rhetoric and False Information Being Put Out by the Left’ Is Increasing Violence Against Our Agents

Smith: “John?”

ROBERTS: “All right, Sandra, let’s bring in U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks. Chief, thanks so much for joining us today. Terrible circumstances that bring us together this afternoon. Here was the statement from the Department of Homeland Security on what happened in McAllen earlier today. ‘This morning, an individual opened fire at the entrance of the United States Border Patrol sector annex in McAllen, Texas. Both Border Patrol agents and local police helped neutralize the shooter. It’s an ongoing investigation led by the FBI. More information will be shared as it becomes available.’ It’s a shocking incident, to be sure, but is it surprising given everything that’s been going on with protests against ICE and Border Patrol?”

BANKS: “So, it’s not. And as you reported earlier, we’ve seen our assaults go up dramatically. And you know what? These Border Patrol agents are out there doing their job. They’re enforcing the law. They’re protecting their communities. We’ve got Border Patrol agents on the river right now in the Guadalupe assisting with the rescue efforts. These agents are outstanding Americans. They’re just trying to enforce the law, but all the rhetoric and the false information that’s being put out by the left, just increasing violence against our agents and it’s just unacceptable.”

Smith: “So, Mike, what’s the solution? How do we tone that down?”

BANKS: “And so, we’ve got to get out in front of the narrative. We’ve got to continue coming on and speaking to you and making sure we’re getting the truth out. We’ve got to continue our messaging, right? But then we’ve also got to hold those that are encouraging violence against law enforcement or inciting violence, we’ve got to hold them accountable and prosecute those individuals as well and know that it is not acceptable to incite violence against law enforcement officers. And we’re going to have to prosecute. We’re going to have to prosecute these people to the fullest extent of the law to let them know that this is not going to be tolerated.”