Thread by @MSNBC

Opinion: @mehdirhasan rebuts and debunks seven anti-immigration myths promoted in recent days. msnbc.com/opinion/there-…

@mehdirhasan Myth 1: “The border has been taken down just months into Biden’s presidency.” — Andrew Sullivan, conservative writer

MH: Pres. Biden has continued fmr. Pres. Trump’s Title 42 policy, allowing CBP to expel migrants before they make an asylum claim in the name of public health.

@mehdirhasan Myth 2: “They’re now finding people from Yemen, Iran, Turkey. People on the terrorist watchlist, they are catching, and they're rushing in all at once.” — Rep. McCarthy.

MH: The fact that migrants have names that “match those on the terror watch list” is meaningless.

@mehdirhasan Myth 3: “The solution was Remain in Mexico and Asylum Cooperation Agreements with the northern triangle countries.” — Rep. Crenshaw

MH: According to CBP figures the policies did little to prevent people from attempting to cross the border.

@mehdirhasan Myth 4: “The Biden administration must stop importing Covid into our country.” — Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott

MH: Accusing immigrants of bringing disease into the country has a long, sordid and dangerous history. It also happens to be totally inaccurate.

@mehdirhasan Myth 5: “Most of these asylum claims are, let’s be honest, totally bogus.” — Rep. Crenshaw

MH: PolitiFact rated Rep. Crenshaw's statement as false, “asylum cases can be closed or dismissed for many reasons, none of which invalidate an individual’s claim.”

@mehdirhasan Myth 6: “Biden is spending $86,000,000 to purchase hotel rooms for 1,200 illegal alien families for six months." — Rep. Boebert

MH: ICE signed a short-term $86.9M contract to "provide 1,239 beds and other necessary services.” There is no mention of “hotel rooms,” only of beds.

@mehdirhasan Myth 7: “President Biden believes in open borders.” — Sen. Kennedy

MH: That is a lie. Biden criticized his Democratic rivals during a 2019 debate for supporting the decriminalization of border crossings: "If you cross the border illegally, you should be able to be sent back.”