Fact Check: Did James Talarico say southern border should have a 'welcome mat'?
AUSTIN, TEXAS: A rumor is circulating on social media platforms claiming that Texas Senate Democratic candidate James Talarico said that the Southern border should have a welcome mat to flood American communities. The claim surfaced ahead of the midterm election. Many are skeptical of the claim and have called for a fact-check.
Claim: James Talarico said the Southern border should have 'welcome mat'
The claim appeared as a post on X and was posted from what appears to be the official account of the Republicans.
The post states, “[James Talarico] believes that we should have a 'welcome mat' on our southern border...and flood American communities with some of the worst of the worst…”
At a midterm rally in Texas on October 29, Rep. Brandon Gill said in part, “... most notably, James Talarico is somebody who has said, openly, that he believes that we should have a welcome mat on our southern border."
"And let me tell you, that is a euphemism for James Talarico telling you that he would like to, once again, reopen our southern border and flood American communities with some of the worst of the worst…”
Fact Check: The quote omits important detail by James Talarico
The claim, however, is false, as Talarico did not suggest opening the borders to allow illegal immigrants into the country.
Although he did say that the US should have a "welcome mat" on the southern border, his full words were that the border should have a "giant welcome mat," and then he added that it should have "a lock on the door."
According to his campaign website, “James Talarico believes our border should have a welcome mat out front and a lock on the door. His plan, endorsed by a Republican sheriff, hires more Border Patrol agents, cracks down on the cartels, and passes comprehensive immigration reform to fix a broken system.”
Talarico used the same words during a conversation with Politico, where he said, “We should treat our southern border like our front porch. We should have a giant welcome mat out front, and we should have a lock on the door."
"Those two things are not mutually exclusive. You have a right to know who's coming into your house, and you should be welcoming the stranger into your home and providing that hospitality.”
The claim has been circulating since March, but resurfaced in the final days before the midterm elections.
