[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 86 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 2013 H.R. 2217

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 14, 2013

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the 
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2013 (H.R. 2217).
  As a member of the Appropriations Committee, we passed a bipartisan 
Homeland Security appropriations bill. I believe, that legislation 
would have passed the House by an overwhelming margin.
  Unfortunately, an amendment offered by Representative Steve King of 
Iowa was added to the bill on the floor; it is a poison pill for any 
member who cares about advancing comprehensive immigration reform. The 
King amendment terminates specific Obama Administration policies on 
immigration, including deferred action for childhood arrivals, 
supporting prosecutor discretion for victims of crimes, and 
prioritizing the deportation of violent criminals. The King amendment 
was adopted in a highly partisan vote of 224-201, with 221 Republicans 
voting for this anti-immigrant measure.
  Specifically, the King amendment would mean that young people, who 
were brought here as children by their parents and grew up in America, 
will face deportation from the country they consider their own. It 
means victims of domestic abuse and human trafficking could face 
deportation for reporting their abusers.
  Prioritizing public safety is only common sense. Immigration 
officials should be focused on deporting dangerous individuals, not 
working families or victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. 
Denying law enforcement officials the ability to use their discretion 
is not only a foolish and ineffective method of directing our 
resources, but inhumane.
  I strongly support the Obama Administration policies that the King 
amendment eliminates. As a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act in the 111th and 
112th Congress, I am appalled that House Republicans would support 
eliminating this policy and forcing these young people to live with the 
fear of being deported. Dreamers want and deserve the chance to earn 
American citizenship so they can fully contribute to the country they 
have always viewed as their own.
  The King amendment will have a chilling effect on the movement for 
comprehensive immigration reform. The Senate is making real progress in 
negotiations, but this anti-immigrant amendment suggests that House 
Republicans have no interest in the real reform needed to fix our 
broken immigration system.

                          ____________________