[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    AMERICA MUST REMAIN A SAFE HAVEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Crowley) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, the Trump administration and its attacks on 
families seeking asylum are in full force.
  The Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, just announced this week that 
victims of domestic violence and gang violence will no longer qualify 
for asylum here in the United States. Victims of domestic violence and 
victims of gang violence will no longer be eligible for asylum, refuge, 
here in the United States.
  This isn't about going after the perpetrators. What the Attorney 
General is doing is targeting the victims--not the perpetrators, but 
the victims--of domestic violence and of gang violence. Meanwhile, the 
administration continues to engage in the sickening policy of taking 
children, babies, away from their mothers and their fathers, just like 
this woman from Guatemala.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an ugly hour for our Nation, uglier than we have 
seen in a very, very long time. As a father myself, my heart aches when 
I hear the stories of toddlers screaming for their parents who are 
sitting in a cell within earshot. If that isn't psychological torture, 
I don't know what is.
  The stories my colleagues have recounted from the visits to detention 
centers are simply gut-wrenching. Any one of my Republican colleagues 
who supports these abominable policies should be ashamed.
  Put yourself in the shoes of these people. They have just ventured 
hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to save their lives and to save 
the lives of their children. They have left everything they have known 
behind; every person they have left behind because it is no longer safe 
to stay there.
  They arrive in the world's greatest nation seeking refuge and asylum 
and turn to American authorities, willingly, and apply for that asylum. 
And what happens? Their children are ripped from their arms screaming 
and crying, all because they tried to save their children from a 
treacherous fate.
  The Republican Party used to stand for and talk a lot about family 
values. Republicans of all stripes would tout it over and over again: 
family values, family values, family values.
  There is no value in ripping a child from the arms of their mother. 
It is inhumane.
  There is no value in keeping children alone in a steel cage without 
the love of their family. It is cruel.
  There is no value in traumatizing children who cannot fend for 
themselves. It is torture.
  My colleagues, America is asking, the world is asking: Where are your 
family values now? Where is your outrage? Where is your compassion? 
Where is your courage?
  They don't need to do this to these families.
  And don't let them fool you: the law does not require this, not one 
bit. This is a choice that is being made by President Trump--not the 
law, a choice--and it must stop. America must be on the side of 
children and families. America must remain a safe haven for those 
seeking safety and refuge.
  Last week, 10 of my colleagues and I sent a letter to the Department 
of Homeland Security and other agencies on this reprehensible action. 
We called on them to cease and desist with their so-called zero-
tolerance policy and reunite separated parents and mothers with their 
children.
  We made very clear that we expected an immediate response; and 
surprise, we have gotten no response. They have offered no response to 
how cruel they are being, no response to the harm that they are causing 
to these children.
  So I will stand in solidarity with these families. I will stand in 
solidarity with those fleeing violence and seeking asylum. I will stand 
up and I will shout out against these agencies until they recognize 
that these practices are unacceptable.
  Democrats will keep fighting until the disgusting practice of taking 
children away from their mothers ends.

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