Senate

Cornyn: Border wall ‘makes absolutely no sense’ in some areas

by Jordain Carney - 02/23/17 11:35 AM ET

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is pushing back against the Trump administration’s call for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, arguing in some areas it wouldn’t be the best option.

“There’s parts of our border which it makes absolutely no sense,” the Senate’s No. 2 Republican told a Texas ABC station on Wednesday. “But what is helpful [is] to have fencing, for example, is places like San Diego, it’s a large urban area.”

Cornyn added that he thought border security needed to include a mixture of personnel, technology and infrastructure.

{mosads}”Some people want to just talk about walls or barriers, but of course unless there are people there when people come over the barrier or through it or under it, that’s not going to work, and really technology is the force multiplier here,” he said.

Border-state Republicans have increasingly voiced concerns about the feasibility of building a physical wall along the southern border.

Senate Republicans have also balked at a 20 percent tax, known as a border adjustment tax, floated to pay for the wall.

Cornyn’s comments come after he led a group of GOP lawmakers on a tour of the border this week. GOP Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Dean Heller (Nev.) and GOP Reps. John Carter (Texas), Mike Conaway (Texas) and David Rouzer (N.C.) went on the trip.

Cornyn argued the trip allowed for lawmakers to “learn more” about the border and the U.S.-Mexico relationship.

“We’re not going to get a divorce,” Cornyn said of the two countries’ relationship. “We’re joined together by a common border.”

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) separately viewed the U.S.-Mexico border for the first time this week.

Tags Dean Heller John Cornyn Paul Ryan Thom Tillis