In a letter led by Representatives Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), House Democrats provide Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen with four thoughtful and realistic steps to begin righting the wrongs the administration has committed on our southern border. As Trump threatens to escalate his failed deterrence-only policies and exacerbate the chaos, the Democrats’ proposed steps are, by contrast, sensible, effective, and humane:
The four steps are included below and the letter is available in full here.
- Allocating personnel and resources appropriately to ensure timely processing of people at ports of entry and better manage the changing demographic flows at our southern border.
- Engaging in real efforts to address the crime, insecurity, and lawlessness that is causing people to leave Central America in the first place. The Administration cutting foreign assistance just when these countries need it most only makes the situation worse.
- Working with partners in the region to expand protection capacity and humanitarian assistance so that people will have other places to find safety and security. We should cooperate to develop a regional approach to migration in the hemisphere, rather than threatening the countries that could be helping us.
- Establishing legal channels, including refugee processing in nearby countries and in-country processing in sending countries, so that making the perilous journey to our border is not the only option for people in need of protection.
According to Pili Tobar, Deputy Director of America’s Voice:
President Trump’s strategy for our southern border is an epic failure and his newest threats and proposals will inflame the situation all the more. In contrast to Trump’s ongoing failures and the chaos it sows, House Democrats have highlighted four affirmative steps that would restore order and re-establish workable solutions that prioritize humanitarian needs.
The administration has proven time and time again that they will ignore real policy solutions for the sake of burnishing the President’s brand as a strongman with an anti-immigrant agenda. Real people are suffering because of the shameless incompetence of the Trump administration and a solution is long past due. It’s time for the administration to work with Congress to implement effective solutions instead of cruel policies intended to sow chaos to score political points with Trump’s base.
