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Lesson of 2014: Check the facts behind Mexico border claims

Texas

By W. Gardner Selby December 23, 2014

Thousands of border crossings resulted in dramatic claims about the Texas-Mexico border in 2014.

And these fact checks landed among our 10 most-read stories of 2014:

* Ted Cruz incorrectly said Barack Obama has promised amnesty to illegal immigrants

* Pants on Fire: Duncan Hunter makes unconfirmed claim Border Patrol caught at least 10 ISIS fighters

* Rick Perry claim about 3,000 homicides by illegal immigrants not supported by stat

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These three border[-related fact checks all landed among our 10 most-read stories of 2014:

* Ted Cruz incorrectly said Barack Obama has promised amnesty to illegal immigrants

* Pants on Fire: Duncan Hunter makes unconfirmed claim Border Patrol caught at least

* Rick Perry claim about 3,000 homicides by illegal immigrants not supported by stat

stated on October 25, 2018 in a TV ad:

Says Ken Paxton "shut down the world’s largest human trafficking marketplace."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on October 22, 2018 in a rally for Republican candidates in Houston:

Says Beto O’Rourke "voted to shield MS-13 gang members from deportation."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on October 16, 2018 in a debate televised from San Antonio:

Says "only one other senator from either party over the last 25 years" has "a worse record on bipartisanship" than Ted Cruz.

true

true

Alexander Strenger

stated on October 1, 2018 in response cited in an interactive voter guide:

Says 60 percent of Austin’s "waterways are found to be contaminated with fecal matter and deemed unsafe to swim."

half-true

half-true

stated on September 29, 2018 in an Austin rally:

Says that in Texas, "you can be too gay to adopt" a foster child "who needs a loving home."

half-true

half-true

stated on September 21, 2018 in a debate at Southern Methodist University:

Says Beto O’Rourke described police as "modern-day Jim Crow."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on September 21, 2018 in a debate at Southern Methodist University:

Says he "did not try to leave the scene of the accident" that led to his arrest for driving while intoxicated.

barely-true

barely-true

stated on September 12, 2018 in a TV ad:

Says Beto O’Rourke voted "against body armor for Texas sheriffs patrolling the border."

false

false

stated on August 26, 2018 in an interview on Fox & Friends:

Says Texas has "had over 600,000 crimes committed by illegals since 2011. Over 1,200 homicides."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on August 30, 2018 in a TV ad:

Says Texas "high school graduation rates are at all-time highs."

true

true

stated on September 4, 2018 in a video:

Says Beto O’Rourke said he’s grateful that people are burning or desecrating the American flag.

false

false

stated on August 28, 2018 in an online video ad:

Says Beto O’Rourke "voted against" Hurricane Harvey "tax relief."

mostly-true

mostly-true

stated on August 21, 2018 in an interview on Spectrum Cable's "Capital Tonight":

Says U.S. Rep. John Carter "hasn’t held a town hall in five years."

mostly-true

mostly-true

stated on July 26, 2018 in an ad in the Houston Defender:

Says "black Americans have 10 times less wealth than white Americans."

mostly-true

mostly-true

Silvestre Reyes

stated on May 22, 2012 in a TV ad:

Says Beto O’Rourke "has a criminal record that includes DWI and burglary arrests."

true

true

Kathy Hochul
stated on November 19, 2024 in a public event:

We've created 732,000 jobs since I've been governor.

By Jill Terreri Ramos • December 26, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on December 15, 2024 in Facebook posts:

Residents in states across the U.S. are eligible for a $2,200 holiday stimulus payment.

By Sofia Ahmed • December 20, 2024
Viral image
stated on December 17, 2024 in a Facebook post:

Video shows Dr. Mehmet Oz and singer Reba McEntire promoting treatment for chronic lung diseases.

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 20, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on December 11, 2024 in a Facebook post:

The NFL punished three referees in “the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings.”

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 20, 2024
Viral image
stated on December 12, 2024 in a Facebook post:

Image shows Kate, the Princess of Wales, without hair.

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 20, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on December 16, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“The NFL has abruptly fired three referees who officiated the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams.”

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 20, 2024
Instagram posts
stated on December 17, 2024 in an Instagram post:

Video shows Vice President Kamala Harris “is plastered again!”

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 20, 2024
Social Media
stated on December 16, 2024 in social media posts:

Tipster in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing is ineligible for reward money "because she called 911 instead of the tip line."

By Loreben Tuquero • December 19, 2024
Sara Jacobs
stated on December 18, 2024 in an X post:

Government shutdowns in 2013 and 2018 “cost our economy billions of dollars each.”

By Louis Jacobson • December 19, 2024
Department of Government Efficiency
stated on December 18, 2024 in an X post:

Spending plan to prevent a government shutdown includes “a pay increase for members of Congress from $174,000 to $243,000 per year.”

By Madison Czopek • December 19, 2024