New York Times: 'The besieged border is a myth'

New York Times: &#039;The besieged border is a myth&#039;

(Image credit: John Moore / Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

The border crisis is a "humanitarian tragedy," not an existential threat, writes The New York Times editorial board. In a strongly-worded weekend editorial, the Times accuses Republicans of "throwing up roadblocks" to a possible solution, and of using the crisis to score callous political points.

Republicans are feeding the cycle, stoking panic about a border under assault, even to the point of demanding that Mr. Obama call out the National Guard. Nativist protesters are blocking buses of migrants in places like Murrieta, Calif. Homegrown militias are issuing calls to arms. Illegal border crossings, meanwhile, are still lower than they have been in years. The besieged border is a myth, and the arrival of a few thousand weary refugee children on buses does not make the myth true. [The New York Times]

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox

Subscribe to The Week

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters