St. Paul Reporter

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2.

For decades, the U.S. immigration system has needed to be fixed. Every step of the way, Republicans failed to work with Democrats on effective solutions, instead blocking meaningful reform efforts for the past 20 years. The crisis we face now is in large part because of that. H.R. 2 is not the solution.

As my colleague from Texas Rep. Cuellar has said, Republican attempts to solve immigration by building a wall “is a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem.” A wall is not a solution to a complex issue.

H.R. 2 takes away critical asylum protections for those fleeing domestic violence and people whose lives are in imminent danger.

Secondly, the bill reinstitutes Trump-era detention centers that rip families apart, separating children from their parents. As of February 2023, nearly 1,000 migrant children separated at the U.S.-Mexico border by the Trump administration have yet to be reunited with their parents—more than two years after the former president left office.

Finally, H.R. 2 removes crucial funding for legal representation for unaccompanied children—depriving them of trusted counsel in immigration proceedings. Vulnerable children deserve reliable legal representation to reunite them safely with their families.

Mr. Speaker, extreme MAGA Republicans want to take us back to the failed illegal and immoral policies of the Trump administration. Those cruel and extreme immigration actions weakened the U.S. economy, undermined our nation’s stance in protecting human rights, and threatened the potential of immigrants who come here seeking a better life.

I stand ready to work my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, business leaders, faith leaders, community leaders, and law enforcement on meaningful immigration reform. Just as we cannot forget the DREAMers, we cannot cast aside those seeking a better future for themselves and their families.

Thank you, and I yield back.

Issues: HOMELAND SECURITY & IMMIGRATION

Original source can be found here.