[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 103 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATION'S MORAL TRADITIONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, it is difficult to find words after what 
has unfolded before our eyes and the eyes of the American people these 
last few days, and it has gotten worse the last few days.
  So today, I rise in defense of children on this House floor to demand 
of this House and, more importantly, the Trump administration to end 
this cruel exploitation of children by separating them from their 
families, by tearing children from their moms, and what appears to be, 
no doubt, a very craven political tactic by President Trump to try to 
hold hostage children to get other draconian items done on his 
immigration bill.
  This tactic is fueled by some very ugly things that the American 
people have to reject. It is fueled by bigotry. It is fueled by hatred. 
It is fueled by fearmongering and is now being fueled by the 
endangerment of children.
  As a father, as a grandpa, I cannot believe how we are debasing our 
Nation's moral traditions, how we are replacing our sacred values with 
autocratic comments and rhetoric from the President.
  Mr. President, no more lies, no more child hostages. End this now. 
You can, and for our Nation's sake and for the children's sake, this 
needs to be done.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the President.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gomez), 
my friend.
  Mr. GOMEZ. Madam Speaker, it is obvious that the administration 
doesn't care about the welfare of immigrant children being separated 
from their parents, but they should at least care about what kind of 
long-term impact they will have on all children, those currently living 
in the United States, documented or not, U.S. citizens or not.
  We act like kids, all kids, don't know what is going on, but they do. 
They might not watch CNN, MSNBC, or FOX, but they talk to their 
classmates, siblings, teachers, and caregivers. They are hearing that 
kids are being torn away from their parents. We have to ask ourselves: 
What are they thinking? What goes through their minds? Are the young 
ones thinking that they can be next?
  I am not exaggerating because shortly after the election of Donald 
Trump, my nephew cried because he thought if my sister left the 
country--because she is a resident and not a U.S. citizen--that she 
would not be able to return. So we know that these kids are paying 
attention. Yes, we might not know for certain what they are all 
thinking, but what we do know is that this policy must end now.

  This must stop for the immigrant children and for all our children so 
that they feel secure and safe where it is natural, where they feel 
loved, and that is with their parents.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois 
(Ms. Schakowsky), my good friend.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, what do you call a country that 
institutionalizes child abuse? Tragically, today you call that country 
the United States of America.
  We have heard the children screaming. We have seen the images of 
children being told to go to sleep in cages. We know that children have 
been ripped from the breasts of nursing mothers and taken away, maybe 
never to be found to be reunited again.
  As a mother, as a grandmother, I can't stand it. Madam Speaker, can 
you stand it? Can this country stand it? What happens to the soul of 
America when we do this to children?
  These parents have come with their children, fleeing violence; 
thinking they are coming to the land of the free, the home of the 
brave; thinking that they are going to be able to get asylum here in 
the United States of America or at least a chance to get asylum here 
and to be safe, finally, with their children. Instead, they are put in 
jail. They are put in prison.
  I am here today with Bruce and Felix, children whose parents are in 
the gallery. They will go home tonight and sleep in a comfortable bed 
while thousands of children are put to sleep in cages.
  I say to you, Mr. President: You can end this. This is your decision. 
Please, for the sake of our country, for the sake of the children, for 
the sake of families, end this now.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks 
to the Chair and not to the President.

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