Claim:
In August 2007, then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden said "no great nation" can have uncontrolled borders and proposed increased security along the U.S.-Mexico border, including a partial border fence and more Border Patrol agents.
Rating:
True (About this rating?)
Context:
An edited video of Biden making these comments was virally shared on X in early January 2024. His full, unedited remarks have been transcribed for this story.
On Jan. 8, 2024, a user on X posted a video from 2007 that showed then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden answering a question about immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border.
The caption of the lengthy, multi-paragraph X post began, "In 2007, Senator Joe Biden declared that no great nation has uncontrolled borders, warning that America must build a border fence and increase border agents to secure the nation against drugs, terror and illegal immigration."
These primary claims in the post's first sentence were all true.
Here are the facts: According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, data from February 2021 through November 2023 (the most recent available data) showed "Southwest land border encounters" on the U.S.-Mexico border totaled well over 6.7 million during that time period. Biden took office in the latter part of January 2021. Finalized data released in the future may indeed confirm a total of 8 million Southwest border encounters for Biden's during 36 months in office.
As for the claim about fentanyl and drug overdoses, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that there had been an estimated 106,661 U.S. drug overdose deaths for the 12 months that ended in July 2023 (the most recent available data from the CDC). The majority of those deaths, 74,191, were from fentanyl and synthetic opioids other than methadone.
Additionally, the post made numerous other references regarding Biden's record on immigration, including when he ended the "Remain in Mexico" policy, paused deportations and halted border wall construction.
Note: In September 2023, it became public that the Biden administration planned to build 20-mile section of border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Biden later told reporters that the partial fence had to be built to comply with the law and that funding from former President Donald Trump's administration had to be used for the construction. He also said "no" in response to a question about whether or not he believed border walls were effective in stopping the influx of undocumented immigrants.
The video was reposted by the likes of X owner Elon Musk, who made the unfounded claim that Biden was "importing voters," apparently referring to the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
During the town hall, Biden was asked by an unidentified woman, "I'm grappling and look to your leadership and experience on this issue of immigration. What is your wisdom and thinking experience about what's legal, not legal... a big tall fence?"
Near the beginning of Biden's answer, he said words that were later echoed in the caption of the video post on X: "It makes sense that no great nation can be in a position where they can't control their borders. It matters how you control your borders. Not just for immigration. But it matters for drugs, terror [and] a whole range of other things."
Later in his answer, he mentioned the idea of "a significant increase in the security at the border," including "virtual fencing, some fencing [and] additional Border Patrol [agents]." He also specified, about his mention of a border fence, "Not a fence 3,000 miles like these folks are talking about" – an apparent reference to Republicans.
Several moments that were edited out of the video that was posted on X included Biden talking about the children who crossed the Southwest border, the Statue of Liberty, people who "race-bait" when debating immigration, and the fact that only around half of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are from Mexico.
We transcribed Biden's full, very lengthy answer below. Only the bolded portions of Biden's answer below were included in the viral video that was posted on X in early January 2024:
In August 2007, then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden said "no great nation" can have uncontrolled borders and proposed increased security along the U.S.-Mexico border, including a partial border fence and more Border Patrol agents.
Rating:
True (About this rating?)
Context:
An edited video of Biden making these comments was virally shared on X in early January 2024. His full, unedited remarks have been transcribed for this story.
On Jan. 8, 2024, a user on X posted a video from 2007 that showed then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden answering a question about immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border.
The caption of the lengthy, multi-paragraph X post began, "In 2007, Senator Joe Biden declared that no great nation has uncontrolled borders, warning that America must build a border fence and increase border agents to secure the nation against drugs, terror and illegal immigration."
These primary claims in the post's first sentence were all true.
Border Crossings, Fentanyl and Biden's Record
The post also criticized Biden's record as president, saying that "a record-breaking eight million people have illegally entered the country in three years with a fentanyl crisis leading to over 106,000 Americans overdosing on drugs last year."Here are the facts: According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, data from February 2021 through November 2023 (the most recent available data) showed "Southwest land border encounters" on the U.S.-Mexico border totaled well over 6.7 million during that time period. Biden took office in the latter part of January 2021. Finalized data released in the future may indeed confirm a total of 8 million Southwest border encounters for Biden's during 36 months in office.
As for the claim about fentanyl and drug overdoses, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that there had been an estimated 106,661 U.S. drug overdose deaths for the 12 months that ended in July 2023 (the most recent available data from the CDC). The majority of those deaths, 74,191, were from fentanyl and synthetic opioids other than methadone.
Additionally, the post made numerous other references regarding Biden's record on immigration, including when he ended the "Remain in Mexico" policy, paused deportations and halted border wall construction.
Note: In September 2023, it became public that the Biden administration planned to build 20-mile section of border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Biden later told reporters that the partial fence had to be built to comply with the law and that funding from former President Donald Trump's administration had to be used for the construction. He also said "no" in response to a question about whether or not he believed border walls were effective in stopping the influx of undocumented immigrants.
Biden's Remarks from 2007
The edited video that was shared on X was recorded at a town hall meeting on Aug. 12, 2007, and took place in front of Madison County Democrats at the Madison County Historical Society in Winterset, Iowa. At the time, Biden was on the campaign trail running for the presidency ahead of the 2008 election – a race that was ultimately won by Barack Obama, with Biden serving as his vice president for two terms.The video was reposted by the likes of X owner Elon Musk, who made the unfounded claim that Biden was "importing voters," apparently referring to the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
During the town hall, Biden was asked by an unidentified woman, "I'm grappling and look to your leadership and experience on this issue of immigration. What is your wisdom and thinking experience about what's legal, not legal... a big tall fence?"
Near the beginning of Biden's answer, he said words that were later echoed in the caption of the video post on X: "It makes sense that no great nation can be in a position where they can't control their borders. It matters how you control your borders. Not just for immigration. But it matters for drugs, terror [and] a whole range of other things."
Later in his answer, he mentioned the idea of "a significant increase in the security at the border," including "virtual fencing, some fencing [and] additional Border Patrol [agents]." He also specified, about his mention of a border fence, "Not a fence 3,000 miles like these folks are talking about" – an apparent reference to Republicans.
Transcript of Biden's Full Answer
More than half of Biden's answer was cut out of the version of the clip that ultimately was posted on X. His full answer – which is available at the 32:52 mark in this C-SPAN video – lasted just over 11 minutes and 30 seconds.Several moments that were edited out of the video that was posted on X included Biden talking about the children who crossed the Southwest border, the Statue of Liberty, people who "race-bait" when debating immigration, and the fact that only around half of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are from Mexico.
We transcribed Biden's full, very lengthy answer below. Only the bolded portions of Biden's answer below were included in the viral video that was posted on X in early January 2024: