Illinois State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, and Illinois 12th Congressional District candidate Darren Bailey railed against the immigration policies of the federal government and sanctuary cities like Chicago during a trip to the nation’s southern border this week.
Wilhour and Bailey held a press conference Monday at the border in Eagle Pass, Texas where they discussed immigration and border security as the city of Chicago continues to grapple with an influx of immigrants, many of whom are being sent to Illinois by the state of Texas.
The site of the press conference, Shelby Park, has become the center of rising tensions between federal immigration authorities and the Texas National Guard who recently blocked U.S. Border Patrol from accessing the park. The Texas National Guard has also been installing razor wire along the border there despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing the federal government to remove it.
“God bless Texas and the Texas National Guard and Gov. Abbot for having the courage and foresight to come in here and take over this park,” Wilhour said during the press conference, which was livestreamed.
Two Illinois Republicans, both competing in the March 19 primary, broadcast Monday afternoon from Eagle Pass, Texas, to call for completion of the border wall.
“Friends,” said Darren Bailey, “it’s time to vote for a secure border. It’s time to vote for a safe America.
Meanwhile, Bailey stressed that he would strongly oppose the current bipartisan border proposal if he was a member of Congress.
“It’s shameful that any Republican would join in any kind of talks putting this together,” Bailey said. “What I do support and demand is a single action bill closing the border right now and finishing the wall. Let’s protect our country.”
* Bailey’s opponent, US Rep. Mike Bost, is hitting the airwaves with another spot. Press release…
Congressman Mike Bost’s campaign today has released its third television advertisement of the 2024 election cycle. The ad, titled “Fighting Patriot,” will air district-wide on cable, broadcast, and satellite television, as well as on streaming services.
“I’ve been to Eagle Pass twice in the past 10 months, meeting with border patrol and reviewing security measures at one of our most targeted points of entry. I voted to build the wall, end catch and release, and hire more border agents. I introduced legislation to stop the Biden administration from facilitating healthcare for illegal migrants with money intended for American veterans. Unlike my opponent, who hastily planned a meaningless publicity stunt at the border because we’re one month from an election, I’ve always viewed border security as a top priority.”
“I’m a governing conservative,” Bost told members of the local farm bureau at a campaign stop in Belleville last month. “Governing means, yes, we’re still going to operate government. We’re not going to blow up the world. We’re going to actually allow government to do its job, and we’re going to be as wise as we can.”
On the other side is the House Freedom Caucus, a small, far-right, pro-Trump faction of House Republicans that sees bipartisan deals as failures. They block House business using procedural rules, and some of its members have said they’d let the government shut down to secure spending cuts, among other demands.
Bailey’s on that side.
“Shut it down and let the American people rise up and wake up, and see that failed leadership has created that,” Bailey said in January during an interview at his homestead in rural southeastern Illinois.
Bost appears to be moving away from his January comments about being a “governing conservative,” at least through March.
Bailey and Wilhour are pretty close to what might be called “imbeciles.”
Wilhour congratulating and worshiping the person in Texas who is rounding up and sending immigrants to his home state of Illinois. That about the dumbest thing yet. A leader would meet with that governor and work to address the problem being propagated in his own home state.
Not Wilhour, and not Bailey. They have nothing to offer but praise for a person who is causing the problem they see in their own state, all the while ignoring the actual issue.
It is pretty absurd for Republicans to suggest they do not want to change immigration policies, but instead build a 2,000 mile long Berlin Wall.
Is that what imbeciles think? No policy, just a beautiful prison wall, like in Gaza?
Wonder if Darren Bailey uses frequent flyer miles with the airlines? During his failed campaign for governor (trips to Chicago), many trips to Florida and Mar-a-Lago, and now the border in Texas, he’s busy promoting himself.
If Bailey wanted to discuss the migrant crisis, why not come to Chicago. Yet, he’d rather grandstand on the Texas border.
- Former Downstater - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 2:01 pm:
Regardless how you feel about the situation, no one that I am aware of is sending the migrants to rural Southern Illinois. Yet, that is all either of these two talk about.
Doesn’t anyone in that district expect their elected officials to represent them to speak on issues that actually . . . matter to the district?
- Former Downstater - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 2:04 pm:
==Wilhour and Bailey held a press conference Monday at the border in Eagle Pass, Texas . . .=
How many press conferences do you think are held there each day by pandering politicians? Is there a sign up sheet? Do you have to “reserve the park for pandering?”
When you’re down in campaign funds compared to your opponent, get lots of free PR by going to the border right now, especially when your opponent is busy in D.C. Not a bad idea, especially if your foreign affairs chops are lacking compared to your opponent.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 3:39 pm:
=== Doesn’t anyone in that district expect their elected officials to represent them to speak on issues that actually . . . matter to the district? ===
Bailey’s campaign tactics and stunts are predictable and boring. It’s nothing more than taking the talking points of conservative media and repeating them. And sadly, for the people of his district, there are a lot more pressing issues than immigration.
The Iowa governor just sent funds to border security in Texas, days after refusing millions in federal funds to help feed power Iowa families this summer. This isn’t about governing anymore; it’s all performance and posturing by Midwestern officials who don’t share one centimeter of the border with Texas.
Many southern illinois farmers enjoy the fruits of migrant labor. they appreciate them for the value add to operations.
Don’t confuse Darren, like his “farmer” friends Chris and Mary, they don’t understand why they’re hypocrites. And Darren’s “bible” must be full of crossed out lines that he doesn’t understand or agree with.
- Dotnonymous x - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:22 pm:
What do you give them after you try to give them what they wanted and they refuse to take what they said they wanted?…it’s border line insane.
- Da big bad wolf - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:24 pm:
=== Fight the woke Biden-Harris agenda that’s giving resources to illegal immigrants.===
What resources?
- Dotnonymous x - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:24 pm:
“Friends”…say it ten times…until it loses it’s meaning.
- So_Ill - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:27 pm:
I wish they could both lose.
- JoanP - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:39 pm:
= it’s border line insane. =
I saw what you did there.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:43 pm:
Boasting bost boosting himself
- Dotnonymous x - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:45 pm:
- What resources? -
I can only point to the ones fermenting in Bailey’s (fertile to fetid) fomenting imagination.
- Jerry - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:48 pm:
They doing anything about the Meth Labs in their districts?
- H-W - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:48 pm:
Bailey and Wilhour are pretty close to what might be called “imbeciles.”
Wilhour congratulating and worshiping the person in Texas who is rounding up and sending immigrants to his home state of Illinois. That about the dumbest thing yet. A leader would meet with that governor and work to address the problem being propagated in his own home state.
Not Wilhour, and not Bailey. They have nothing to offer but praise for a person who is causing the problem they see in their own state, all the while ignoring the actual issue.
It is pretty absurd for Republicans to suggest they do not want to change immigration policies, but instead build a 2,000 mile long Berlin Wall.
Is that what imbeciles think? No policy, just a beautiful prison wall, like in Gaza?
- Jerry - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:49 pm:
Actually God was horrified when they took over the park in Texas.
- Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:50 pm:
Wonder if Darren Bailey uses frequent flyer miles with the airlines? During his failed campaign for governor (trips to Chicago), many trips to Florida and Mar-a-Lago, and now the border in Texas, he’s busy promoting himself.
If Bailey wanted to discuss the migrant crisis, why not come to Chicago. Yet, he’d rather grandstand on the Texas border.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:50 pm:
“Friends,” said Darren Bailey, “it’s time to vote for a secure border”
It’s literally the opposite time for Republicans, who are killing bipartisan border legislation.
- Jerry - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 1:53 pm:
“Friends”, God said, “quit mis-quoting me.”
- Former Downstater - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 2:01 pm:
Regardless how you feel about the situation, no one that I am aware of is sending the migrants to rural Southern Illinois. Yet, that is all either of these two talk about.
Doesn’t anyone in that district expect their elected officials to represent them to speak on issues that actually . . . matter to the district?
- Former Downstater - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 2:04 pm:
==Wilhour and Bailey held a press conference Monday at the border in Eagle Pass, Texas . . .=
How many press conferences do you think are held there each day by pandering politicians? Is there a sign up sheet? Do you have to “reserve the park for pandering?”
- Dotnonymous x - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 2:14 pm:
When the non-housed plead for money?…it’s called Panhandling.
When politicians plead for money…it’s called Donations.
See how that works?
- Former ILSIP - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 2:17 pm:
When you’re down in campaign funds compared to your opponent, get lots of free PR by going to the border right now, especially when your opponent is busy in D.C. Not a bad idea, especially if your foreign affairs chops are lacking compared to your opponent.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 3:39 pm:
=== Doesn’t anyone in that district expect their elected officials to represent them to speak on issues that actually . . . matter to the district? ===
That’s not how Fox News tells them to think.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 3:53 pm:
Bailey’s campaign tactics and stunts are predictable and boring. It’s nothing more than taking the talking points of conservative media and repeating them. And sadly, for the people of his district, there are a lot more pressing issues than immigration.
- quad cities - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 4:09 pm:
The Iowa governor just sent funds to border security in Texas, days after refusing millions in federal funds to help feed power Iowa families this summer. This isn’t about governing anymore; it’s all performance and posturing by Midwestern officials who don’t share one centimeter of the border with Texas.
- Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 4:17 pm:
Does anyone notice Darren Bailey’s resemblance to the Cheshire Cat? Those teeth, that smile, friends.
- flea - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 5:18 pm:
Many southern illinois farmers enjoy the fruits of migrant labor. they appreciate them for the value add to operations.
- OurMagician - Tuesday, Feb 6, 24 @ 8:44 pm:
Many southern illinois farmers enjoy the fruits of migrant labor. they appreciate them for the value add to operations.
Don’t confuse Darren, like his “farmer” friends Chris and Mary, they don’t understand why they’re hypocrites. And Darren’s “bible” must be full of crossed out lines that he doesn’t understand or agree with.