Political Quotes

“I again thank all of my colleagues who joined us today and who spoke with such clarity and urgency. What we heard this afternoon makes one thing clear: Immigration enforcement against children is inhumane and unnecessary. Families can and should be able to navigate their immigration cases together and in community, with the support of loved ones and legal service providers. Detention harms children. It harms their physical health. It harms their mental health. Even after they are released, that trauma stays with them for life. For so many children, the harm starts long before detention ever happens. It starts with fear. For months now, every single school group that has come into my office or that I have visited has raised ICE as one of its top concerns. Elementary students, middle schoolers, high schoolers, even college students, for all of them, ICE is their top concern. At a time when teachers aren't getting paid enough, and the Department of Education is getting gutted, young people are coming to Congress and asking: How can we stop our friends from being taken away? This administration is traumatizing an entire generation. That is why we are here today to call for an end to cruel immigration enforcement against children. End child detention. Defund and dismantle ICE, and save our children from this nightmare. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”