In the post-debate spin room, Castro again said O’Rourke has not done his homework on immigration, calling him “misinformed.”
“I do find it somewhat ironic that a senator from Massachusetts and a senator from New Jersey and a congressman from Ohio have a better understanding of immigration law than Congressman O’Rourke,” he said.
One of the challenges for both those debating on stage and reporters monitoring the debate is the always looming question of who won. A consensus answer might be more difficult this evening because of the unquestionable effect of social media.
Fact check: What is Section 1325, and why do Castro and O’Rourke disagree about it?
Julián Castro made the claim earlier this evening that the reason the Trump administration is separating families is because “they are using section 1325 of that act which criminalizes coming across the border to incarcerate the parents and then separate them.”
This is true. Section 1325 within the U.S. Code, “sets forth criminal offenses relating to (1) improper entry into the United States by an alien.” The Trump administration has used this statute to prosecute, and detain, people for illegally crossing the U.S. border.
Castro, referring to himself, also said that, “Some of us on this stage have called to end that section, to terminate it.”
“Some like Congressman O’Rourke have not,” Castro said.
O’Rourke, in fact, told CNN earlier this month that he did “not think it should be repealed,” citing attempts by some crossing the border to smuggle people or drugs into the U.S.