San Diego, California (CNN) -- Monitoring the immigration crisis requires keeping one eye on Washington and one on the U.S.-Mexico border. One place is full of corrupt and mercenary characters who protect their interests, don't follow the rules, play with people's lives and who only care about making money and amassing power and ensuring their own survival. Then you have the border. Alarmed over tens of thousands of child refugees coming into the United States, House Republicans last week sent up a flare -- and wound up setting themselves on fire. With the Senate in recess until after Labor Day, Republicans approved a pair of show bills.
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House votes for spending bill on border crisis and against reprieve program for "dreamers"
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Ruben Navarrette: Democrats set a clever trap on immigration and GOP fell into it
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He says Republicans alienate Latino voters by showing contempt for issues they care about
The @placeholder will pay for that mistake for years, and deservedly so.