Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shed light on the appalling state of our Nation's immigration detention centers. Devoid of health services and basic medical standards, these ICE facilities are cruel and inhumane. Suicide rates are high, children and families are traumatized, and LGBT detainees are subject to alarming rates of abuse. These centers are also very expensive. Daily operations cost $165 per detainee, and $2 billion, annually, despite detention alternatives that can cost as little as $9 a day. Yet even with this track record, ICE funding has nearly doubled from the Bush administration to today, and transparency has fallen by the wayside under the current administration, all while conditions continue to deteriorate. Inhumane treatment of the undocumented cannot be rewarded with repeated budget increases. It goes against our country's most fundamental values and cannot continue. We must cut ICE's budget until these concerns are addressed. ____________________”