Is there a crisis on the southern border? Here comes a reality check from Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents 16,000 Border Patrol agents.

“As in 2014, we’re dealing with an untenable number of unaccompanied minors. But unlike in 2014, we’re also dealing with adults bringing children into the United States and falsely claiming parental guardianship — the first indicator of sex or servitude trafficking. We’re dealing with the smuggling of dangerous narcotics like opioids and fentanyl, which has caused an epidemic and American deaths at unprecedented rates,” Mr. Judd writes in an op-ed for Fox News.

“We’re dealing with a greater number of people from countries other than Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. And to top it all off, we’re dealing with a greater number of people illegally crossing the border who have prior criminal records in the United States. Clearly, if the United States was dealing with a border crisis — humanitarian or otherwise — in 2014, you must agree that we’re now dealing with a complete border catastrophe,” he continues.

“But the evidence gets even more damning. Politicians, and at times the mainstream media, would have you believe that the United States Border Patrol is arresting fewer people today than it did at the height of illegal border crossing arrests in the early to mid-2000s. This isn’t true. It’s simply a Jedi mind trick meant to make you believe there is nothing to see here,” Mr. Judd says, noting that his officers are on track to arrest more people in fiscal year 2019 than ever before.

“The national emergency is very real, and Border Patrol agents nationwide are grateful to President Trump for declaring it. A bipartisan crisis was acknowledged in 2014. It is high time Democrats, Republicans, and independents acknowledge the current national emergency on our southern border and let the president deal with it effectively,” he says.

CORNYN HAS A SAY

“Compared to this time last year, family unit apprehensions have increased 209 percent in the Rio Grande Valley sector. Family unit apprehensions have increased 497 percent in the Del Rio sector. And most staggering, in the El Paso sector, overall apprehensions have increased 434 percent while family unit apprehensions have increased an incredible 1,639 percent,” Sen. John Cornyn noted during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday.

“This is not a crisis, people say? I hear absolutely no suggestions from our Democratic friends on how to deal with the causes of these problems,” the Texas Republican observed.

NO FOX NEWS FOR THE DEMOCRATS

The Democratic National Committee has rejected Fox News as a host for upcoming presidential primary debates.

“Recent reporting in The New Yorker on the inappropriate relationship between President Trump, his administration and Fox News has led me to conclude that the network is not in a position to host a fair and neutral debate for our candidates,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said in a statement.

He made his decision despite the fact that Fox News has been the most-watched cable news network for more than 17 consecutive years, consistently besting MSNBC and CNN, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Fox News defended the prowess of its broadcast teams, praising news anchors Chris Wallace, Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum for journalistic integrity and professionalism.

“In the minds of many progressives, this is a no-brainer move. Fox’s prime-time talk shows relentlessly demonize Democrats and the progressive agenda,” CNN analyst Brian Stelter wrote in the aftermath.

“Considering Chris Wallace moderated a presidential debate, that seems a little short-sighted,” tweeted John Roberts, chief White House correspondent for Fox News.

And the sequel to all of this?

“Democrats just blocked Fox News from holding a debate. Good, then I think I’ll do the same thing with the Fake News Networks and the Radical Left Democrats in the General Election debates!” President Trump tweeted, a comment which quickly drew 85,000 likes, 24,000 comments and 22,000 retweets.

YES, BACON IS MORE EXPENSIVE

The American public puzzles over price hikes in prescription drugs. They’re also puzzling over price hikes at the grocery store, and no wonder. Overall prices have risen by 19 percent in the last decade, says the consumer research group Wall Street 24/7. The group also figured out the top 20 items that are driving up the grocery bill the most, based on comparisons of consumer price indexes, and Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Here’s the top 5:

In fifth place, it’s salt, seasoning and spices — with a price increase of 32 percent in the last decade, followed by oranges and tangerines (up 38 percent); beef and veal (up 42.4 percent); and seafood (up 42.5 percent). Margarine is in first place, with a price increase of 50.2 percent.

And yes, the nation’s beloved bacon is on the list, ranked at No. 15 — with a price jump of 24.5 percent.

“The climb in the prices of breakfast meat is partially attributable to growing demand. Americans are projected to consume in 2019 an average of 52.3 pounds of pork, the most commonly used meat for bacon and sausage, up 7 percent from 48.9 pounds per capita in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” write analysts Samuel Stebbins and Charles Stockdale.

‘THE CASE FOR TRUMP‘ CONTINUED

Author and historian Victor Davis Hanson — whose new book “The Case for Trump” is about to broach the top 10 on Amazon — faces an audience of 30 select journalists in the nation’s capital Thursday. The two-hour event will be hosted by Stanford University’s Hoover Institution at a noteworthy eatery “just steps from the White House,” where prime steaks and seafood are the focus.

The book has won accolades from Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin.

“Hanson understood the circumstances that gave rise to Donald Trump early on, how the president has made long overdue changes, and why his enemies seek to destroy him,” says Mr. Levin.

POLL DU JOUR

• 58 percent of U.S. voters say people are “set in their opinion” of President Trump regardless of what investigations reveal; 76 percent of Republicans, 65 percent of independents and 63 percent of Democrats agree.

• 55 percent say Mr. Trump should not be impeached; 91 percent of Republicans, 57 percent of independents and 19 percent of Democrats agree.

• 44 percent approve of the job Mr. Trump is doing; 86 percent of Republicans, 42 percent of independents and 10 percent of Democrats agree.

• 22 percent approve of the job Congress is doing; 13 percent of Republicans, 20 percent of independents and 36 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: A Monmouth University poll of 746 registered U.S. voters conducted March 1-4.

• Helpful information to [email protected]

Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.