Republican Senator Britt’s State of the Union response criticized over misleading border story

In her rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech Thursday night, Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., told a story about a Mexican woman who was a victim of sex trafficking at the age of 12, laying blame at the feet of the current administration.

“President Biden’s border policies are a disgrace,” she said.

Although Britt did not name the victim in her speech, she has previously shared the story of a woman who appears to be the same individual based on congressional testimony, news releases and news reports.

That woman, Karla Jacinto Romero, is a Mexican citizen who does not live in the United States and who has spoken frequently about her experiences of being forced into sexual slavery for four years. In 2023, Jacinto participated in an event near the Texas border with Mexico that was also attended by three senators, including Britt. In a video released shortly after that trip, Britt discussed Jacinto’s experiences.