Senator says previous administration created southern border crisis

A Democratic senator from Arizona said on Sunday that the previous administration created a crisis at the southern border through policies that permitted undocumented immigrants to enter the country legally. The senator, who represents a border state, said the situation affected constituents more directly than those in non-border states.

Criticism and political context The senator stated that breaking with the previous administration did not involve fear of retribution, unlike the current administration. The senator noted that Republican senators who have criticized the current president have faced primary challenges backed by that president.

The senator suggested that, in the current political environment, it is easier to be in the minority party than to hold a leadership position under the present administration.