![D-TX Rep. Veronica Escobar welcomes Vice President Kamala Harris to the border [Twitter:Screenshot:Washington Examiner]](https://images.dailycaller.com/image/width=960,height=411,fit=cover,f=auto/https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/D-TX-Rep.-Veronica-Escobar-welcomes-Vice-President-Kamala-Harris-to-the-border-TwitterScreenshotWashington-Examiner-scaled-e1624640891786.jpg "D-TX Rep. Veronica Escobar welcomes Vice President Kamala Harris to the border [Twitter:Screenshot:Washington Examiner]")
Democratic Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar welcomed Vice President Kamala Harris Friday to El Paso, calling it “the new Ellis Island,” during Harris’ first trip to the area since taking office.
“Welcome to El Paso. Welcome to my community, to the new Ellis Island, to the capital of the border” an excited Escobar said. “I am standing before you with a heart full of gratitude, vice president, thank you for being here.”
Rep. Veronica Escobar welcomes VP Kamala Harris to the border:
“Welcome to El Paso. Welcome to my community, to the new Ellis Island.”pic.twitter.com/VBvO5fkSOR
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 25, 2021
Ellis Island began accepting immigrants in 1892, welcoming more than 12 million immigrants legally into the U.S., for more than six decades. Upon arriving at Ellis Island, immigrants would undergo a three to five hour inspection where doctors would diagnose any medical issues. Legal inspectors would then examine immigrants’ answers to a series of questions during their processing.
Immigrants did not need passports or visas, however, according to History.
Republican Florida Rep. Byron Donalds criticized Escobar’s comparison of El Paso to Ellis Island.
“Children are being moved by the cartel, and drugs are flooding the country.”
Three months ago, I joined some of my colleagues from the @GOPoversight Committee on a trip to El Paso, the city @RepEscobar just called the new “Ellis Island”.
The crisis is nothing to be proud of. Children are being moved by the cartel, and drugs are flooding the country. pic.twitter.com/H7rqhpGFKT
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) June 25, 2021
“The crisis is nothing to be proud of,” he said.
Escobar’s comments come weeks after Harris told migrants in Guatemala who were considering journeying to the U.S. not to come to the border. (RELATED: Kamala Harris Says It Was ‘Always The Plan’ To Visit US-Mexico Border After Dodging It For Months)
“I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States – Mexico border, do not come. Do not come.”
“There are legal methods by which migration can and should occur, but we as one of our priorities will discourage illegal migration and I believe that if you come to our border you will be turned back,” Harris said.
U.S Border Patrol apprehended an unprecedented 180,000 migrants at the border in May alone.