Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, this amendment is simple and straightforward. It is 15 words. It prohibits defense facilities from being used to house or detain unaccompanied migrant children. I understand the bill already provides some safeguards, so detention at DOD facilities would follow certain guidelines, but this amendment makes clear that the policy to detain children is out of line with American principles. Detention is not the answer to an influx of migrants. There are communities across the country, including in my own district, ready to welcome the children seeking refuge. Asylum seekers are not criminals; they are human beings fleeing violence in search of a dignified life. Children fleeing violence should not be met with cruelty. Preventing migrants from joining society is not only preventing the American economy from growing, but it also is costing taxpayers much more than it should. Instead of encouraging placement of children with capable sponsors, the entire system appears to be weighted against moving children out of detention, all for the so-called deterrent effect. There is no national security reason to detain children. Kids are not prisoners of war. They do not belong at military bases. They do not belong in tents. They do not belong in cages. They belong in the arms of their mothers and with their families. It is our broken immigration system that keeps children locked up. It is inhumane; it is cruel; and it is unconscionable.…”