Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2-- this harmful, partisan, Republican legislation--for many reasons, but especially because it will endanger people seeking asylum. This bill takes us backwards after years of acknowledging the need for comprehensive immigration reform. The expansion of family detention in this bill will hurt children and families. It is costly, and it does not work as the majority claims. Mental health and medical experts agree that jailing immigrant families exposes children to high levels of trauma and distress. We should be expanding effective programs like Family Case Management, but this bill guts the program and will undermine its proven record of close to 90 percent compliance. We live in a country of immigrants, and our Nation is stronger because of its diversity. I urge all of my colleagues to oppose building walls and detention centers and support comprehensive, humane immigration reform that will strengthen our economy, enhance our security, and reflect our core values as Americans. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an article from Social Science & Medicine about the high levels of mental health distress experienced by children who are held in immigration detention. [From Social Science & Medicine, Apr. 29, 2019] Mental Health of Children Held at a United States Immigration Detention Center (By Sarah A. MacLean, Priscilla O. Agyeman, Joshua Walther, Elizabeth K. Singer, Kim A. Baranowski, Craig L. Katz) 1.…”