League of United Latin
American Citizens,
Washington, DC, July 19, 2017. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of the League of United
Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's oldest and
largest Latino civil rights organization, I write to oppose
any legislative attempts to keep funding the construction of
a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, the expansion of a Trump
deportation force, and the increase of detention beds in
immigrant incarceration centers. As the House moves to consider the Fiscal Year 18
Department of Homeland Security Appropriation bill, and other
security related bills, LULAC is deeply concerned about
language that would provide billions for the construction of
a costly and divisive wall along the Southern border, as well
as hundreds of millions to hire a deportation force and
expand immigrant incarceration. The continued criminalization of immigrants, militarization
of the border, and rush to build a costly, ineffective, and
destructive wall on the U.S.-Mexico border are aims of
radical politicians seeking to advance a xenophobic, anti-
Latino agenda in this Congress. Unfortunately, this
administration has failed to focus on legitimate staffing
concerns at ports of entry, rebuilding port infrastructure,
and protecting the land, water, and environment of the
border. Instead, it is looking to seize the private property
of border residents, destroy the natural habitat and wildlife
in border communities, endanger border water supplies, and
turn immigrant neighbors, families, and children into
criminals who merit incarceration and deportation. The House of Representatives should not enable these aims
and should oppose any language seeking to advance the radical
right-wing agenda of demonizing border communities and
scapegoating immigrants. LULAC opposes any DHS appropriation
bill, or any other appropriation vehicle, that funds border
walls/levees, the hiring of Trump's deportation force and the
continued expansion immigrant incarceration. Sincerely,
Roger C. Rocha, Jr.,
LULAC National President.
Keywords matched
immigrants deportation xenophobic immigrant border
wall