Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his consistent leadership as he serves as chair and ranking member of a number…”

“I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his consistent leadership as he serves as chair and ranking member of a number of subcommittees of the Homeland Security Committee. He has been not only an effective manager here on the floor, but he has been a very effective Member and effective leader on so many issues. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 4209 from my colleague and friend from Texas (Mr. Pfluger). After years of service on the Homeland Security Committee and any number of times going to the border, I would like to first describe and acknowledge that the southern border is many things. It is a lifeline to desperate people who are fleeing horrible, violent situations that include the decapitating of their sons and daughters or their husbands and even wives. With the violence of some of the oppressive states in Central and South America, where young boys are recruited right out of their homes for gangs, gang warfare, those families are intimidated and frightened if they do not give their boys to these major gangs and cartels. We have had any number of a series of the flow of massive influx of migrants from the region. Many may come out of desperation for economic reasons, but many come with credible fear. We expect that that may even occur as early as the next couple of months.…”