In recent weeks, Alabama elected officials on the local, state and federal levels have come out in staunch opposition to the increasing number of Haitian migrants settling in rural areas of the state in response to concerns arising from the impacted communities.
One federal lawmaker was recently singled out by a national political news outlet, accusing him of ignoring the crisis. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) represents Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District, where much of the Haitian migration is reportedly occurring, including in the small city of Sylacauga, at the center of the controversy.
Natalie Winters, host of the “War Room” program on Real America’s Voice, an outlet founded by former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, related Rogers’ inaction on the Haitian issue to an appetite for increased funding for Ukraine.
.@nataliegwinters asks the question, "Who is responsible?" for the Haitian invasion. Find out what she has to say about Mike Rogers and more!
WATCH the entire show👇https://t.co/LeSfCiPAnZ
Watch RAV LIVE: https://t.co/aeKhZCtVbe pic.twitter.com/ysVRNlNcAP
— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) September 9, 2024
“We’re going to hold the Republicans, the RINOs who have allowed this whole situation to happen accountable,” Winters said. “So, Sylacauga, Alabama, that’s the 3rd [Congressional] District. You know who their Congressman is? Mike Rogers. He’s held that position for nearly two decades, since 2003.”
“There’s reporting coming out, whether it’s from city councilmen or the mayor of that small town in Alabama. I want to read this direct quote to you, ‘I don’t have anything in writing. All we have right now is hearsay.’ That’s what happened when the mayor reached out to Mike Rogers’ office asking about what the heck these Haitians were doing in his district.”
RELATED: Steve Marshall: Haitian immigrants in Alabama ‘a legitimate concern’
Winters noted that Governor Kay Ivey has not been provided any information from the federal government on how to address the issue. Federal lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) have publicly identified the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) Parole Program, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as the culprit.
“Now, the governor said the same thing, quote, ‘our office has received zero facts or communication from the federal government on any situation, or any recent immigrant issues for that matter.'”
The host took Rogers to task for his support of additional Ukraine funding, accusing him of prioritizing funding for the Eastern European country over securing the Southern Border and scrutinizing problematic Biden-Harris immigration policies.
“This is the very same Mike Rogers who hasn’t even gone down to the United States border, let alone for a photo op,” Winters said. “But he’s busy taking trips over to Europe and Ukraine to audit the aid packages to make sure that they’re getting into the right hands.”
“Meanwhile, the Southern Border. He actually doesn’t care about even going there. Now, here’s the best part: He’s been interviewed because, apparently, the only time he can find to do anything is if it has to start with Ukraine. That’s his only priority, quite literally. And for the first time since World War II, we had an established world order. ‘For the first time since then, a sovereign nation invaded another sovereign nation, just to take it.’ That’s a direct quote on Mike Rogers’ brilliant assessment of what’s happening in Ukraine,” Winters said.
“News flash, Mike Rogers, the United States is under attack. Our sovereignty is under attack.”
Last week, Rogers signed onto a letter addressed to President Biden urging the use of long-range missiles guided by American or NATO satellites to hit targets deep within Russia. The country’s President Vladimir Putin has said that the strikes would make the United States a direct participant in the ongoing war.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.