[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 105 (Friday, June 22, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              IMMIGRATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Handel). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2013, the gentleman from California (Mr. Ted Lieu) 
is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, if the Statue of Liberty 
could cry, she would be crying today. As I stand here, there are 2,300 
babies and kids who were ripped away from their parents by our 
government and are in detention facilities across America.
  America was a country founded by people fleeing persecution. We are a 
land of immigrants. President Ronald Reagan called us ``that shining 
city upon the hill.''
  Unfortunately, Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen 
have perverted that grand legacy and have now engaged in the functional 
equivalent of kidnapping.
  You can believe in any God or no God at all and conclude that ripping 
kids away from their parents is immoral. I believe in Jesus Christ. 
Every single thing in the Gospels and what Christ taught goes against 
the policy of family separation.
  Imagine being a mother and father and losing your child to the 
government and not knowing if you are ever going to see your child 
again, the horror of that.
  Imagine being a child; when you are young, your parents are likely 
the most important people in your life. Imagine being ripped away from 
your mother or father and not knowing if you are ever going to see them 
again, and then being placed in a detention facility with strangers. 
Imagine the horror and fear you will see doing that. What must that 
sound like?
  (Audio being played.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. For what reason, Madam Speaker?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is in breach of decorum.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Cite the rule, Madam Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Rule XVII of the rules of the House 
prohibits----
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. There is no rule that says I can't play 
sounds.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Why are you trying to prevent the 
American people from listening to what it sounds like in a detention 
facility?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Rule XVII of the rules of the House 
prohibits the use of that device.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. These are babies and kids in a detention 
facility. Why do you not let the American people hear what they are 
saying?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. There is no rule in the House that says I 
cannot play sounds from a detention facility.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend the use of the 
device. It is in violation of rule XVII.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Read the rule. It does not say I cannot 
play sounds from a detention facility.
  Why are we hiding this from the American people?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Rule XVII prohibits the use of an electronic 
device to produce sound in the Chamber.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Why are we hiding it from the American 
people?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Why are we hiding it from the American 
people?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend, per rule XVII of 
the rules of the House.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. We have 2,300 babies and kids----
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend. Per rule XVII of 
the rules of the House, that prohibits the use of a device to produce 
sound in the Chamber.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. We have 2,300 babies and kids in 
detention facilities who were ripped away from their parents. I think 
the American people need to hear this.

                              {time}  1300

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend per rule XVII of 
the rules of the House.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, I think the American 
people need to hear this ProPublica tape of a detention facility of 
babies and children who were ripped away from their parents.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Sergeant at Arms will enforce the rules 
of decorum.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.

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