Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my House colleagues to stop and think for a moment and to oppose not only the rule, but the underlying bill. It is extreme, it is anti-immigrant, and it is really not about sanctuary cities. In fact, this flawed legislation actually second-guesses the decisions that are made by local police chiefs and sheriffs around the country on how best to police their communities and ensure public safety and ensure the kind of cooperation that they need in order for law enforcement to work properly. As the founder and former executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, representing domestic violence organizations and coalitions around the country, I am deeply concerned that this legislation will have a negative effect on the cooperation that is necessary between law enforcement and isolated, very isolated victims of domestic and sexual violence. Furthermore, it would strip the bipartisan provisions that passed in the Violence Against Women Act when we just reauthorized it. Specifically, H.R. 3009 negatively amends section 241(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act by doing the following: It undermines the spirit and protections of VAWA, effectively pushing immigrant survivors and their children, many of whom are likely U.S. citizens, deeper and deeper into the shadows of danger.…”