Political Quotes

“Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I understand this bill is intended to ``require a DNA test to determine the relationship between'' asylum-seeking adults at the border and ``any accompanying children.'' However, it fails to accomplish this goal, and our current laws already include provisions to allow for DNA testing. Under current law, as written, DHS and the State Department already have the necessary authority to collect DNA when there is any question about the familial relationship between a noncitizen and a minor child traveling with them. At the southwest border, the Department of Homeland Security currently conducts DNA testing when there is any question about the validity of the parent-child relationship, and additional scrutiny is placed on individuals who are not related to the child to ensure that a child is not being trafficked. Due to what I assume is a drafting error in this proposal before us, I have to note that this bill will not even apply to families seeking asylum at the border. As it is currently written, this bill only applies to someone who is ``admitted'' to the United States, but under our immigration laws, asylum seekers at the border ``enter'' the United States but are not usually ``admitted.'' There is a big distinction here.…”