Mike Garcia: “I thank Mr. Takano for giving me this opportunity to speak about a topic that is really important right now in our…”

“I thank Mr. Takano for giving me this opportunity to speak about a topic that is really important right now in our country. Mr. Speaker, there is no issue right now that should concern Americans more than the elimination and destruction of due process, not just now for U.S. citizens but for people who are here whether it is a legal status or because they have been invited to this country to apply for asylum. I want to go ahead and speak a little bit more about Andry Romero, this young gentleman right here. He is a gay hairstylist and makeup artist who came to the United States with an asylum appointment. The United States Government gave Andry an appointment to show up to the border so that he could claim asylum using our process that we created. He shows up with his appointment. What happens? He gets interrogated through the process. His initial screening is positive, and then he essentially gets taken at the border from that screening directly to a prison in El Salvador, a country he knows nothing about, in a process that eliminated his right through the court and due process asylum system that we have created in this country. What kind of America is this where we are doing this to people who are seeking asylum? We are sending them to a foreign prison. I note that Andry's family describes him as someone who is sweet, kind, and gentle, yet we are sending him to a notorious prison in a very vulnerable position.…”