Veronica Escobar

We must understand the human toll of these policies.

Words have consequences. Policies have consequences.

Just as we try to deal with and face atrocities of one Trump administration policy, another one is always right around the corner.

Remain in Mexico is not a representation of the beauty of this binational community.

This administration governs with cruelty.

When will the President stand up and recognize the humanity, the grace and the dignity of every human being regardless of whether that human being is an immigrant or a Latino or a Muslim.

The words that he has used to describe immigrants and to describe Hispanics and really all minorities, that those words are wrong, that he should never have done that -- never said them, and that he takes them back.

I declined the invitation because I refuse to be an accessory to his visit.

I would like to bring to everyone's attention a recent article...

And I want to first say thank you very much for having this hearing. It was shocking to hear the ranking member lament the fact that we are having another hearing on child separation.

We have innumerable examples in El Paso, Texas, where they have claimed fear, and they have been returned anyway.

We know of a specific case, for example, where two young families were returned to Ciudad Juarez and, while running errands, their fathers were kidnapped, beaten, and then released.

But there is no doubt that there are some really bad agents as well, and it is important that we root out those who dehumanize migrants.

I think we as a country have damaged an entire generation of Central American children, and this abhorrent policy, unfortunately, continues to this day.

I believe we in Congress have a duty to demand accountability and safeguard one of our Nation's highest principles that no one is above the law.

El Paso, Texas, the community I'm so privileged to represent, has chosen to respond in a way where we create humanitarian standards for migrants.

I suspect there are lots of empty ICE beds waiting for the interior enforcement.

I have a couple of questions for you, Mr. Secretary. I shared with you when you first were sworn in... that I felt you had a problem in ICE.

I feel that the matter of choice is one that is pretty transparent when we've chosen to separate children as a government.

I'm worried about them. I worry about my community, which has shouldered the responsibility of being the good servant in a very dark time.

Some in Congress would like to see more hardline policies that essentially shuts our front door and ensures that this becomes someone else's problem, and others would like to truly address the challenge that we face as a country and as a…

There were 200 women who had been held for over a month outdoors in 90-plus degree heat.

I would love for the OIG to look into that.

It's not simply a question of resources; it's a question of policy.

I think it is very important that we focus on solutions.