Summer Lee

I want to close my remarks by an apology to these families.

The President needs to know that in the places beyond the boundaries of Washington none of his policies are working.

Again, I must emphasize to Mississippi what a major asset Chairman Thompson has been to the securing of this Nation.

So, Mr. Chairman, let me just say--I am not sure if this is the time that we are supposed to respond to closing or I yield back, but I would certainly like to make a few points.

Let me say this, Mr. Miles, because you won't get me on the record saying that identity theft is not important or serious.

The law is one thing, but to implement the law in certain ways is another thing.

It is not Congress's policy to separate families and mothers from children. That is the policy of the President of the United States.

In Houston, Texas, our churches open the doors as an effort to make sure that people were protected.

The President of the United States announced another cruel act of indicating to cities across America that he was getting ready to raid across this country.

I am baffled by the purpose of this raid because the number of agents could have as well found these individuals in their respective homes over a period of time.

I cannot emphasize enough that you must give us the numbers, if you will, of the children still unaccompanied.

I think I acknowledged the fact that this is a Nation of laws and a Nation of immigrants as well.

I just want to contribute that for the concept of the failed policies that we are now putting--having a hearing for.

Do you think the policies were cruel in terms of how mothers----

When you have ICE coming in and raiding your community there is always the potentiality for escalation.

How devastating, how piercing it is in terms of relationship with your Federal law enforcement.

I promote the working of Federal law enforcement with local law enforcement, Sheriff.

This raid came under, as has been indicated, this administration. Didn't get any high-dollar target.

You released about 303 individuals immediately. So that shows that they either had some basis of being able to get out.

We are a Nation of laws and we are a nation of immigrants.

Mr. Chairman, thank you so very much and let me thank all the witnesses. Let me thank Mr. Miles, Sheriff Lee--greetings from my sheriff in Houston. I work extensively with law enforcement.

The workers that--pretty much let me make sure I am making this clear. But the workers that were taken, primarily if not all--they may have criminal records unknown to me but were good hardworking people.

There is just a lot of suffering still.

We think the number of children affected overall exceeds 1,500 children.

If the individuals impacted have not been a threat to the community, then the community should have been engaged in whatever you did.