Bennie Thompson

This waste of money is made worse by Trump's xenophobic agenda.

You can do it with compassion, and I think it is the compassion, or lack of, in this situation that causes us concern.

I would not take pride in this country that separates its children.

We should not under any circumstance separate children from their parents.

The Hispanic population in the city of Canton are not gang members. They are not rapists. They are not murderers, but folks who work and pay taxes, purchase goods, take care of each other and their families.

I certainly want to recognize Congressman Lee and thank you for all of the good deeds that you have done not just for the State of Mississippi, for this Nation.

The manner in which the raids was conducted was appalling and inhumane, to say the least.

We must recognize the human dignity and contributions of immigrants who have lived, worked, and worshipped in our community...

This is a National outcry and I believe many of these decisions are in your hands.

Thank you for--thank you again for giving me the opportunity to express my testimony on behalf of these people that all cry out for help.

I pray to God to give you the wisdom to resolve this issue in the right way.

These people, I can personally attest, are hard workers who contribute to the local, State, and National economy.

I respectfully request that the House Committee on Homeland Security take whatever action it can to provide those detained in the Mississippi raids of August 7, 2019, with temporary work authorization.

Mississippi is not better off as a result of what ICE has done here.

We do not think our immigrant friends and neighbors are dangerous.

I want to make clear that the raids of August 7 were not a response to any outcry from Mississippians regarding the presence of immigrant workers in our communities.

I am committed to ensuring that the Department of Homeland Security enforce the laws and keeping our values and exercise discretion where necessary to protect children and other vulnerable populations.

I support immigration reform to ensure that employers can hire the workers they need and good people who want to work to support their families will have a way to do so.

Why are we treating them so differently, if you would, Honorable Mr. McAleenan?

Immigrants have made America great, not by themselves, but they have been a part of the greatness of this country.

This failed policy has hurt the United States' standing around the world and harmed our strategic interest in our own hemisphere.

Refugees are not criminals or terrorists, they are men, women, and children seeking asylum.

We must not engage in immigration policy that is an afront to our Nation's values and in direct opposition to our National interest.

We must strengthen and protect institutions--like our system of Federal elections that is under pressure from Russia and other foreign state actors.

The security of the homeland is at stake, and our constituents expect no less.