Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester joined with her colleagues in voting to pass H.R. 3401, a $4.5 billion emergency border supplemental appropriations bill to address the urgent humanitarian situation at our Southern border.  The bill provides significant funding for priorities to meet the needs of vulnerable children, including food, water, medical services, legal assistance, support services for unaccompanied children, alternatives to detention, and refugee services.  The bill also contains important oversight provisions to hold the Administration accountable and to insist the Administration start to protect the rights of immigrants.

“The humanitarian crisis that has unfolded at our southern border demands immediate attention and action from Congress,” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “While this bill provides much-needed funding to help deal with the immediate needs at the border, it does not represent the final word from Congress. The callous indifference that this Administration has shown to these children and families requires rigorous oversight of the use of these funds. The images that we have seen in recent weeks and days should shock the conscience of every American and display the very real consequences of this Administration’s calculated effort to alienate and demonize immigrants, which stands in stark contrast to the values on which this country was founded. More than just money is needed to deal with this crisis and Congress must come together to create a forward-looking and humane strategy that doesn’t turn its back on immigrants in tough times.  It’s time to work together to put aside our differences and find ways to fix our immigration system immediately.”

This strong border legislation:

·         Provides $4.5 billion in emergency spending to address the humanitarian situation at the border – strengthening health standards for children and families in CBP custody and securing robust funding for priorities including legal assistance, food, water, sanitary items, blankets and medical services, support services for unaccompanied children and refugees, which will relieve the horrific situation of over-crowding and help prevent additional deaths.

·         Protects families and does not fund the Administration’s failed mass detention policy – funding effective, humane alternatives to detention with a proven track record of success, placing strict limits on influx shelters, protecting sponsors from DHS immigration enforcement based on information collected by HHS during the vetting process and requiring DHS to submit its plans to Congress to ensure strong congressional oversight, including to protect unaccompanied children.

·         Helps address the roots causes of the crisis – reversing the Administration’s senseless decision to block the U.S. assistance that Congress has already appropriated for the Northern Triangle countries, and ensuring funding is used responsibly to improve border security, stop human smuggling and drug trafficking, combat corruption and reduce poverty and promote growth in Central America.

In addition, additional important provisions were added in a manager’s amendment, including provisions requiring Customs and Border Protection to establish plans, standards, and protocols to better ensure the health and safety of children and adults in custody, including standards for medical care and medical emergencies, nutrition, hygiene, facilities, and personnel training.

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