Republican Senator Katie Britt Under Fire for Misleading Border Policy Critique Using Sex Trafficking Survivor’s Story
In a recent turn of events, Republican Senator Katie Britt of Alabama has come under fire for her misleading critique of President Joe Biden’s border policy. During her rebuttal to Biden’s State of the Union address, Britt used the story of a sex trafficking survivor to condemn the current border management. However, it has been revealed that the survivor’s experience took place in Mexico from 2004 to 2008, long before Biden became president.
During her speech, Britt claimed to have spoken with a woman who had survived sex trafficking by cartels starting at the age of 12. She presented this anecdote as a damning example of Biden’s border policies, stating, “We wouldn’t be okay with this happening in a third-world country. President Biden’s border policies are a disgrace. This crisis is despicable.”
However, it was later discovered that the woman in question, Karla Jacinto Romero, is an activist who has publicly testified about her experience with sex trafficking. Her ordeal occurred in Guadalajara and other Mexican cities, not the United States. Britt’s implication that Jacinto Romero shared her experiences privately is contradicted by publicly available information.
It was revealed that Britt visited the Del Rio area in January 2023, accompanied by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Cindy Hyde-Smith. During that trip, Jacinto Romero appeared at a press conference with the senators and publicly shared her harrowing sex trafficking story. She is a well-known advocate for sex-trafficking victims and has testified before U.S. Congress, the Mexican House of Representatives, and the Vatican.
Journalist Jonathan Katz first brought attention to Britt’s presentation of Jacinto Romero’s experience in a TikTok video, which quickly gained traction online. Since then, Britt has faced significant online criticism for her misleading storytelling and delivery during her rebuttal.
Political scientist Norman Ornstein commented, “So not only was Katie Britt a flaming embarrassment. She is also an out and out liar. Alabama’s finest!” Many journalists and authors have joined the chorus in criticizing Britt for her misleading rhetoric.
Alabama columnist Kyle Whitmire criticized Britt’s tactics, stating, “This was old Alabama politics. The politics of fear and confusion. Britt blamed Biden for an assault that appears to have happened 20 years ago. Her spokesman won’t give a clear answer when asked.”
In response to the backlash, Sean Ross, spokesperson for Senator Britt, did not deny that Jacinto Romero is the sex trafficking survivor in question but stood by the senator’s story. Ross stated, “The story Senator Britt told was 100% correct. But there are more innocent victims of that kind of disgusting, brutal trafficking by the cartels than ever before right now.”
While it is true that sex trafficking continues to be a pressing issue, it is important to note that Jacinto Romero’s story does not serve as an example of sex trafficking under the Biden administration. In a 2015 House document, it is mentioned that Jacinto Romero has since become a happy and successful mother, wife, student, and international activist.
This revelation has put Senator Katie Britt in a difficult position as she faces criticism for her misleading use of a sex trafficking survivor’s story to criticize President Biden’s border policy. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how this will impact Britt’s political career and reputation moving forward.
