Politics

FLASHBACK: Joe Biden Suggests Building A 40-Story Fence To Stop Flow Of Drugs

Vice President Joe Biden swears in CIA Director John Brennan in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, March 8, 2013. Brennan was sworn in with his hand on an original draft of the Constitution that has George Washington's personal handwriting and annotations on it, dating from 1787. Members of Brennan's family stand with him. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.Ê

Former Vice President Joe Biden once suggested a 40-story fence along America’s southern border to stop the inflow of drugs coming through “corrupt Mexico,” according to a resurfaced 2006 video.

“Folks, I voted for a fence, I voted, and unlike most Democrats — and some of you won’t like it — I voted for 700 miles of fence,” Biden said to a South Carolina rotary club in November 2006, according to CNN.

“But, let me tell you, we can build a fence 40 stories high — unless you change the dynamic in Mexico and — and you will not like this, and — punish American employers who knowingly violate the law when, in fact, they hire illegals,” Biden continued. “Unless you do those two things, all the rest is window dressing.”

The then-senator for Delaware added the barrier was more about addressing illegal drug flow than immigration.

“And let me tell you something folks, people are driving across that border with tons, tons, hear me, tons of everything from byproducts for methamphetamine to cocaine to heroin and it’s all coming up through corrupt Mexico,” Biden said.

Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates said the 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful still believes in immigration reform, but disagrees with President Donald Trump’s policies, CNN reported.

“He believes that we can secure our borders without abandoning our values, and that we should do that by addressing the root causes of immigration abroad and working toward comprehensive immigration reform at home, including a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and smart border security,” Bates said. “He also believes that the Trump Administration’s approach to immigration, including its crackdown on sanctuary cities and especially its repugnant treatment of migrant children, is contrary to our values as a nation.”

Biden’s 2006 remarks were not the first to discuss cracking down on border-related issues, however. He did not support sanctuary cities breaking federal law and thought employers of illegal immigrants should be sent to prison in 2007. Biden also believed illegal immigrants should not have access to driver licenses in 2008, according to CNN.

Biden announced his candidacy for presidency in April.

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