Speech #1140044849

Deport without due process tens of thousands of unaccompanied children who came to the US fleeing persecution. extreme violence and trafficking. Just this past Friday. the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit issued an opinion dismissing immunity claims by ICE Agents who unlawfully detained an American citizen. A U.S. citizen who was born in Guatemala and has resided here since the 1980s and was naturalized in 1995. was subjected to multiple ICE detainers in violation of her Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. On at least two occasions the plaintiff was detained by ICE and questioned about her citizenshipdespite her repeated claims and assertion of her legal status. No efforts were made to confirm or investigate prior to her detention by ICE which allowed her to be booked. stripsearched and held in jail for up to 48hours. "Detain first. question later" practices and policies should not be supportedyet H.R. 3009 penalizes law enforcement for refusing to gather information about ones citizenship or immigration status where such actions are unwarranted. President Obama issued a statement today advising that H.R. 3009 will get vetoed if presented to him for signature. It cannot be said that immigration reform is being taken seriously. when proposals are rushed and fail to go through regular order. Serious reform requires bringing to the floor for debate a comprehensive immigration bill that reforms our broken immigration system by making it fairer and more humane. and secures our Northern. Southern. and maritime borders and our ports. The House Homeland Security Committee proved this can be done last year when it reported out of committee on a unanimous vote. H.R. 1417. the Border Security Results Act of Instead of wasting time on legislation that is designed to attract publicity rather than have any realistic chance of becoming law. we should be bringing to the floor for debate legislation that will address the real problems and challenges facing the American people. Instead of squandering valuable floor time on this irresponsible legislation. the House should be allowed to work its will on issues that matter. like raising the minimum wage. protecting the right to vote of all Americans. and passing criminal justice reform that builds trust and respect between law enforcement agencies and the communities they are to protect and serve.