[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 104 (Thursday, June 21, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SEPARATION OF CHILDREN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2018

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out 
against the awful situation that has transpired over immigration in our 
country. When President Trump asked Congress to come to a legislative 
solution over DREAMers in our country, it should never have come to a 
point where our country no longer treats immigrants with compassion and 
respect. Families and children should have never come in the cross fire 
of politics, and our nation should have never witnessed a humanitarian 
crisis on our own land.
  President Trump, since the beginning of his term, has issued a number 
of executive orders on immigration, refugees, and border security. 
These actions include President Trump's border wall, extreme 
deportation policies against undocumented immigrants, three bans on 
refugees and travelers from predominately Muslim countries, and a 
rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). 
President Trump has created fear and uncertainty for many that legally 
reside in our country, including thousands of legal immigrants in our 
district in Houston and Harris County, Texas. Congress has offered 
several bipartisan legislative solutions, including the DREAM Act and 
the USA Act, but it is the President who refuses to work with Congress 
until all of his unreasonable demands are met.
  Today, our chamber is left with only two choices: H.R. 4760 and H.R. 
6136. These bills are not only bad policy, but they also only make 
matters worse. The so-called Securing America's Future Act, H.R. 4760 
offers no path to citizenship for Dreamers, removes protections for all 
unaccompanied minors, and harms our communities. This bill absolutely 
fails to help fix actual immigration problems in our country and 
instead pushes the propaganda that immigrants are criminals and a 
burden to our society. This is false. The 29th District of Texas is 
home to one of the largest immigrant populations in the country. I have 
seen with my own eyes how they bring innovation, entrepreneurship, and 
hard work that have been an integral part of making Houston a world-
class city.
  The Border Security and Immigration Reform Act, H.R. 6136 is being 
sold as a compromise, but this is a sham. This bill limits the 
eligibility criteria for DACA, cutting off most Dreamers and many DACA 
recipients. For those that will be eligible, this legislation does not 
guarantee citizenship, as the participants will be pitted against each 
other in a point system to obtain permanent residence. The 
administration must stop treating Dreamers as pawns--their lives are 
not ours to play with. The Border Security and Immigration Reform Act 
will also fund an expensive and arbitrary border wall. Even worse, the 
problems this legislation seeks to solve, such as family separation, 
are exacerbated. It will eliminate requirements for children in 
confinement that ensures they are safe, sanitary, and appropriate for 
children.
  In a few months, the President has led our country into a 
manufactured humanitarian crisis. We have mistreated children and 
family members as they come to our borders seeking asylum. President 
Donald Trump's ``zero tolerance'' policy is inhumane, cruel and un-
American. President Trump's Executive Order on June 20th creates a 
dangerous situation for the future requiring children to be detained 
for prolonged periods, resulting in dangers for their health and mental 
well-being, and there is no solution for over 2,000 children that have 
already been separated from their parents.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask Congress to think about the children and families' 
lives that we are destroying. Many will still not be able to reunite--a 
travesty that I am sad to say is because of our President. The 
separation of families has never been an option for any other 
administration and it is unthinkable that it is a choice today. We must 
come together to address how to create an immigration system that is 
humane and honors our nation's history and traditions. We are America 
and we must start acting like it.

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