A “humanitarian crisis” at the Texas border will require shared commitment to a resolution in Congress, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Wednesday.

Speaking on a conference call from Washington with Texas news reporters, Cornyn noted that former President Obama as early as 2014 identified border issues as a humanitarian crisis. But the senator said that Democrats and Republicans have been unable to bridge their political differences over how to handle them.

“Central Americans are taking advantage of gaps in our laws,” Cornyn said, insisting that they are fleeing political oppression, massing at the border and gaining entry to the country while U.S. border protectors are overmatched.

Cornyn said as many as 103,000 migrants were along the border in March, creating massive logistical problems. He said that while border guards were distributing food and diapers to meet immediate humanitarian issues, they are ill-equipped to process swelling immigration claims.

“We are most generous for legal immigration,” Cornyn said, but the U.S. cannot meet the “flood of humanity” presented by the immigrants. He said he supports President Trump’s “desire to get Congress to fix flaws in our (immigration) laws.”

Cornyn said drug traffickers and cartels are “getting rich” at the border by sending migrants into the U.S. while the Border Patrol is overmatched by growing humanitarian concerns.

“Our bridges and ports of entry are clogged now,” he said, while tourism and trade is stymied at the border.

To meet humanitarian needs, Cornyn said, immigration judges with case overloads are admitting the migrants and setting court dates down the road. In many cases, he said, the migrants will never show up for their cases to be heard.

Cornyn said legal immigrants are not getting processed and the border cities are becoming increasingly concerned about interruptions in commerce.

In other matters, Cornyn said:

• The Senate Finance Committee is studying legislation to address the high cost of prescription drug pricing. Among the concerns: With some drugs, there is little competition for prices and there can be high deductibles for payment. He said he expects consensus legislation by year’s end.
• As many as nine federal judges may be in the queue for Senate approval within the next few weeks. Cornyn blamed inaction in the last Congress, which meant judicial nominations were returned to the Executive Branch to be resubmitted.
• Cornyn said he was among senators to introduce the Protect Act on healthcare, which will ensure protections for those who have pre-existing health conditions.

In response to a question about Democrats creating a “war room” to oppose his 2020 re-election in Texas, Cornyn said, “I hope they spend every last cent they have.”

“The money comes from out of state from partisans telling Texans who they should elect,” he said.

“I happen to be proud of Texas and believe we are model for nation. There are others who want to change us.”