Speech #1130113930

The Republican leadership has rejected our hand of friendship to compromise on this supplemental. Instead of bringing legislation forward that could solve this problem really and truly. it has resisted the appeals of humanitarian and religious leaders across all faiths. The Evangelical Immigration Table calls on us to ensure that our response strengthens our countrys tradition of providing safety and refuge to the vulnerable. This legislation that we have before us does not do that. It is wrong. But dont take my word for it. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urges Members to oppose H.R. 5230 and work together to craft legislation that is more befitting the United States of America and the American peoples history of compassion and generosity to vulnerable children and refugees. The Archbishop of Miami. Thomas Wenski. speaking on their behalf. has said of this legislation. the two pieces of legislation before us: This is a sad day for our country. A Chamber of Congress is poised to send vulnerable children back to danger and possible death. It violates our commitment to human rights and due process of the law. and lessens us as a Nation. In their letter. the bishops further state their opposition to H.R. 5232 and say that it "stems from its elimination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program." otherwise known as DACA. In conclusion. the bishops write: How our Nation responds to this humanitarian challenge is a moral test of our national character. We ask that you oppose H.R. 5230 and H.R. 5272. which we feel fail to live up to that test. Others. such as the American Bar Association. write: Due to their age. lack of education. language. and cultural barriers. and the complexity of U.S. immigration law. these vulnerable children face insurmountable obstacles to proving their claims before an immigration judge on their own. It is the children who are most likely to be eligible for some relief under the law who may be least able to articulate their experiences under this proposed procedure. They have been through a lot of trauma. and we want to add to that. Yet. this has not been enough to stem the path that the House Republicans are going down. To further poison the pie they offer their caucus the chance to even be less compassionate in their vote to end DACA and to deport the DREAMers. It is not enough for Republicans to send desperate children back to the violence of their home countries. They must also vote to deport the best young immigrants and brightest in our schools. vote to send victims of domestic violence back to their abusers. vote to hand witnesses back to drug lords. vote to remove the parents of American children. These pieces of legislation dishonor America. They are a rejection of our values.