On the recordJuly 11, 2019
I thank the gentlewoman. I think the process that the gentlewoman is advocating in this amendment, which I support, is not militarizing the immigration system, particularly since the immigration system is mostly civil. Most of the migrants who are coming across the border are asking for asylum. If we would simply put in place a process to be able to process the asylum seekers and to increase the legal process for them, then we wouldn't have to militarize the border by a deployment of troops or by incarcerating individuals in military facilities. That can be a bipartisan effort. If we join with my colleague to do comprehensive immigration reform, then we will not need to utilize these facilities. I agree that immigration does not equal defense or criminalization.
