Democratic Rep. Cuellar carjacked in Washington, DC



U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) was carjacked Monday evening in the Navy Yard area of Washington, D.C., roughly a mile away from the U.S. Capitol.

Police indicated the incident took place around 9:30 p.m. at New Jersey Avenue and K Streets, reported the Washington Post.

"As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, 3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle. Luckily, he was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement," Jacob Hochberg, Cuellar's chief of staff, said in a statement.

DC Alerts indicated that the suspects were black males wearing all-black clothing and had stolen a white Honda with Texas tags, which Hochberg indicated has since been recovered.

According to the New York Times, the congressman's iPad and iPhone had also been taken.

The U.S. Capitol Police reportedly now have investigators working with the Metropolitan Police on the case.

In response to Cuellar's carjacking, Utah Sen. Mike Lee wrote, "My friend, @RepCuellar (D. TX), became the victim of a crime tonight in what's considered a nice part of D.C. D.C. is dangerous. Something's gone terribly wrong here—for far too long. Congress has the sole power to make D.C.’s laws, and must intervene."

Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch, similarly suggested that "this crisis in our nation's capital is, under the US Constitution, the responsibility of Congress. DO SOMETHING!"

Cuellar, a supporter of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act who has family in law enforcement, is the latest victim of a trend in the Democrat-run city that is getting aggressively worse.

Metropolitan Police Department records indicate motor vehicle theft is up 106% this year over 2022, with 5,398 reports of stolen vehicles.

Most types of crime are actually up in the city such that even the consulate for crime-ravaged Mexico has warned its nationals to "take precautions" in the city due to "a significant increase in crime in areas previously considered safe," reported ABC News.

Murders, of which there have been 215 already this year, are up 37%. Sex abuse is up 3%. Assaults with dangerous weapons are up 2%. Robberies, of which the city has seen over 2,600 in 2023, are up 68%. General theft is up 22%. Arson is up 125%.

Cuellar's carjacking is not the first time in recent months that a Democratic lawmaker has fallen victim to the crime now devouring D.C.

Rep. Angela Craig (D-Minn.) was attacked inside the elevator of her apartment building in February, reported Politico.

The deranged attacker, later identified as 26-year-old Kendrick Hamlin, entered the elevator along with the congresswoman, did some push-ups, then began punching Craig in the face and grabbing her neck. Craig reportedly escaped by dousing the suspect with hot coffee and then bolting.

Hamlin, accused of also attacking the two police officers who ultimately arrested him, pleaded guilty in June to assaulting Craig.

Other workers on the Hill have similarly been caught up in the worsening trend.

One of Sen. Rand Paul's aides was "brutally attacked in broad daylight" in March, reported NPR. The staffer, Phillip Todd, was stabbed multiple times and would likely have perished had it not been for the intervention of a friend.

The Hill reported that a staffer for Republican Rep. Brad Finstad (Minn.) was attacked in June outside his home, blocks away from the U.S. Capitol building.

The staffer, left with minor injuries, told MPD that "while walking home two males wearing black hoodies pushed him to the ground and pointed a black hand gun at him."

After D.C. marked its 200th murder earlier this month, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has been at odds in recent months with soft-on-crime leftists on the D.C. Council, said the District was having a "bad year," reported the Washington Times.

This "bad" and ostensibly ever-worsening year might have something to do with the precedent set in 2022 by Matthew Graves, the Biden-appointed U.S. attorney for the District, who the Washington Examiner indicated had declined to prosecute nearly 70% of the people arrested by police.

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Dem lawmaker swiftly fact-checks CNN host who claims Border Patrol agents used 'rope,' 'lasso' against migrants



Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) fact-checked a CNN host in real time Tuesday after the host repeated misleading claims that Border Patrol agents were using whips to corral Haitian migrants at the southern U.S. border.

What happened?

Cuellar — the congressional Democrat who has been the most outspoken about the border crisis — rebuffed CNN host Victor Blackwell for perpetuating misinformation about Border Patrol agents.

Blackwell accused Border Patrol agents, "mounted on horseback," of "charging or chasing" migrants. He said one agent "appear[ed] to use what looks like a rope or lasso" against the migrants.

"Well, you know, certainly, we got to make sure we treat all the immigrants with respect and dignity," Cuellar said. "But I will say this: Border Patrol has had those horse brigades for a while, they've had them for a while, number one."

"Number two, they don't carry whips and they do not carry lassos," Cuellar continued. "I think the picture you're talking about, at least the one I've seen is the rein, the rein of the horses."

Texas Democrat @RepCuellar corrects CNN host who’s upset about border agents on horseback: “The picture you’re talk… https://t.co/b34b4KUDBq

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) 1632249944.0

When pressed by Blackwell whether horse reins should be used against the migrants, Cuellar advertised caution against assuming the worst of Border Patrol agents.

"Well, again, if there was a problem, it should be investigated, and I think that's it. But we cannot paint the Border Patrol with that same type of paintbrush," Cuellar said. "Look, you know, what are they supposed to do? Just stand there and let everybody come in?"

"You know, they're supposed to be enforcing the law," he continued. "But again, as to how you enforce the law, you got to make sure you treat people with dignity and respect."

What is the truth?

Pictures show that mounted Border Patrol agents maintaining security in Del Rio were not using whips, ropes, or lassos against the migrants. As Cuellar pointed out, agents were photographed holding the reins used to control a horse.

PAUL RATJE / AFP

Unfortunately for the anti-Border Patrol narrative, it's difficult to draw conclusions about behavior of Border Patrol agents from photographs, for they are missing the context necessary to ascertain what actually happened. While a few images purportedly suggest misbehavior, video does not irrefutably corroborate what Democrats and some media members have suggested.

In the above photo, for example, the mounted Border Patrol agent appears to be guiding his horse by tugging on the rein, not using the rein against the migrant.

Still, the Department of Homeland Security has promised a swift investigation into actions of the mounted Border Patrol agents.

Report: 'Mass releases' of thousands of illegal immigrants happening in Rio Grande Valley over the weekend



Thousands of illegal immigrants were encountered by overwhelmed Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley over the weekend and are being released and handed bus tickets to wherever they'd like to go in the U.S., according to a reporter.

Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin reported Monday that local Border Patrol stations near McAllen, Texas, are "585% over capacity" and that there are "mass releases" of illegal immigrants underway.

Another Fox News reporter, Griff Jenkins, added that in the last 24 hours border agents in the Rio Grande Valley had 3,002 encounters with illegal immigrants and that the total number of law enforcement encounters with migrants over the weekend was 8,144.

NEW: Per DHS sources, local Border Patrol stations in McAllen area are currently 585% over capacity and there are “… https://t.co/CJI8CeuWKr

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) 1627915178.0

Record numbers of migrants are seeking illegal entry into the United States. According to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who represents parts of the Rio Grande Valley, Department of Homeland Security agents encountered over 180,000 illegal immigrants at the southern border in July, after encountering 188,829 migrants in June.

Our DHS agents, & border communities, are overwhelmed & must be prioritized. DHS will again encounter over 180,000… https://t.co/9DJMQhIlhq

— Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) 1627771354.0

More than 1.1 million migrants have crossed the U.S. border in the current fiscal year, overwhelming the Biden administration's immigration enforcement agencies.

The surge of migrants is so large that thousands of migrants are being released after detention without being given a date to appear in court and have their immigration cases processed.

The crisis is hitting particularly hard in Cuellar's district, where local officials are pleading with the Biden administration for "immediate and decisive action" to provide more resources for DHS agents in the Rio Grande Valley as well as "the immediate cessation of admissions of additional immigrants."

TheBlaze reached out to DHS for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

On Sunday, Melugin posted drone video footage of "up to 1,000" migrants being held by Border Patrol under the Anzalduas Bridge in Mission, Texas, near an area of the Rio Grande river that's popular for border crossings.

Great work and Incredible footage @BillFOXLA - add to it - in the LAST 24hrs, RGV had 3,002 encounters - an increas… https://t.co/EYlxgw1G2G

— Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) 1627905052.0

After these migrants are apprehended by Border Patrol, they are being released to a Catholic charity that's providing them with food and shelter before they are given bus tickets or air tickets to travel to other places in the U.S., Melugin reports.

"Large groups of migrants being walked to McAllen Central Bus Station by a local Catholic Charity after they were dropped off & released by Border Patrol. This is happening every hour. Migrants are given bus tickets wherever they want to go," Melugin said.

Nonstop mass drop offs from Border Patrol here at the charity. @FoxNews https://t.co/ImjTMlpfns

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) 1627917970.0

The charity, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, have been assisting the migrants with humanitarian aid but they too have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people being sent to them by Border Patrol. The problem is exacerbated by the threat of unvaccinated, COVID-19 positive migrants being released from detention into American communities where they may spread the virus.

Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced he would deploy the Texas National Guard to help federal agents apprehend illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border.

Texas Democrat leaks new photos of children being held at packed migrant facility: 'We're feeling the brunt'



New photos have been released that show dozens of children who are packed into migrant facilities at the U.S. southern border. The eye-opening photos were shared by Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar from Texas, who said that the unaccompanied minors were detained by Border Patrol for "far longer" than the 72-hour legal time limit. After 72 hours, minors are supposed to be transferred to a Health and Human Services facility.

Cuellar appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, where he revealed the packed conditions at migrant facilities. Minors are seen from wall-to-wall with no space for social distancing, and laying on the floor with mylar blankets.

The Democratic congressman said there are "groups of over a hundred individuals coming in into the Border Patrol custody" every single day. He said that it is "nearly impossible to reduce the numbers of people at the detention facilities" when there are hundreds of people illegally crossing over the U.S. border every day.

Cuellar said unaccompanied children are being moved into migrant facilities, but "at first the priority was given to young boys."

"For example, Carrizo Springs has young boys from 13 to 17," Cuellar told host Margaret Brennan. "San Diego is going to be now taking 500 of the young girls— or have taken that."

The Texas representative noted, "Out of the 5,000 plus that they have at the Rio Grande, about 65% are unaccompanied kids."

Cuellar said family units are being released into the U.S., which has caused a "burden" on the border communities. "The cities, the counties, the NGOs," he said. "We're feeling the brunt of what's happening with the family units."

Cuellar admitted that he gets more information about the current border crisis from Mexico than the Biden administration, and hasn't been in contact with Vice President Kamala Harris since November despite her being appointed to take the lead on the migrant surge.

NEW: While journalists' access to migrant facilities continue to be limited, @RepCuellar shares exclusive photos wi… https://t.co/9A1CG67Ykz
— Face The Nation (@Face The Nation)1616943909.0

Last week, Cuellar shared photos taken inside a U.S. Customs and Border Protection temporary surge facility in Donna, Texas. Conditions inside the migrant facilities have been described as "grim," cage-like, and "akin to jails."

https://t.co/jjwutZ9Uty
— Ian Miles Cheong (@Ian Miles Cheong)1616410741.0

Last week, 18 Republican senators went down to the border to examine the immigration crisis. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) claimed that they were blocked by officials from taking photos and videos of the conditions at the migrant facility in Donna, Texas. Cruz released a video of the confrontation with a woman who wouldn't let him record a video inside the migrant facility.