Democratic Presidential candidate Cory Booker has caused controversy by crossing into Mexico to escort deported asylum seekers back over the border.
The Senator, 50, visited the Mexican border city Ciudad Juarez from El Paso, Texas, to help five women who had previously been sent back to Mexico.
He was joined by immigration rights attorneys and advocates to get the women, who are fleeing domestic violence, admitted back into the US.
However, he has been accused of breaking the law by critics who claimed he violated legislation which prohibits 'bringing or attempting to bring unauthorized aliens into the United States in any manner whatsoever, even at a designated port of entry'.
His trip across the border comes after Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visited a detention center this week and said that illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers were 'drinking out of toilets' – a claim an agency official quickly denied
Booker tweeted about his visit to Mexico, with photos and video of him escorting the immigrants shared on social media.
He said: 'Today I crossed the US-Mexico border in El Paso with @fams2gether and @LasAmericasIAC to help five women present themselves for asylum.
'We helped the women present themselves for asylum. @LasAmericasIAC will monitor them throughout the process to ensure they aren't sent back.
'But it shouldn't take a member of Congress to help people cross into our country. Seeking asylum is a legal right.'
Booker said the women had been abused and lived in squalid conditions with inadequate food, water and medical attention while detained in the US
Cory Booker causes controversy by helping immigrants return to the US
Corey Booker, 50, visited the Mexican border city Ciudad Juarez from El Paso, Texas, to help escort five women into the US after they had previously been sent back to Mexico.
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1. So if the conditions were so bad why would he bring these women back?
2. Will Corey Booker sponsors these women and their families?
3. Will Corey Booker just admit he does not care about tax payers?
4. Has Corey Booker helped any American woman raped by an illegal alien?
He was joined by immigration rights attorneys and advocates to help five women fleeing sexual assault.