Adriano Espaillat: “This is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill…”

“This is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6136, the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act, has been touted as ``the compromise bill.'' But don't let that fool you. This bill cuts legal immigration by 40 percent. This bill cancels diversity green cards. This bill eliminates most family reunification. And finally, this bill hurts asylum seekers. This bill is anything but a compromise. It is anything but fair. And it is certainly not pro-family. We have spent the last few days and weeks watching babies ripped away from their parents' arms. We heard their cries in the middle of the night as they missed their parents, and the American people were truly moved by this humanitarian crisis. This crisis drew attention from international institutions and organizations, such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, all of them condemning the separation of children from their families. This Nation has a longstanding tradition of providing asylum to those who flee death, terror, and natural disasters. We need to continue to be a beacon of hope and aspiration for the rest of the world.…”