[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 110 (Friday, June 28, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4672-S4673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND 
                  SECURITY AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER ACT

  Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, today I wish to speak about S. 1900, the 
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and 
Security at the Southern Border Act. I understand there is some 
important funding in the bill to deal with President Trump's 
manufactured crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly funding for 
the Department of Health and Human Services. However, I cannot in good 
conscience support a bill that provides additional resources to the 
Department of Homeland Security at a time when we are seeing this 
agency commit so many gross human rights violations. I want to make my 
position clear: I do not support this bill in its entirety, and I would 
have voted against it.
  Both U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, and U.S. Customs 
and Border Patrol, CBP, have already benefited from increased funding 
in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and, as we have seen, have used that 
funding to ramp up their inhumane policies. Policies like ``metering'', 
which forces migrants to wait in Mexico for weeks, sometimes months, in 
order to enter the United States and claim their legal right to asylum. 
We know that ``metering'' has resulted in the deaths of families 
seeking refuge, like Oscar Alberto Martinez and his 23-month-old 
Valeria just this week. Policies like the zero-tolerance policy, which 
has separated thousands of children from their families and continues 
to this day. These policies are unacceptable and do not reflect who we 
are as Americans. Everyone should be outraged as what is happening at 
the hand of this administration and DHS.
  Just last week Donald Trump tweeted that he would begin ICE 
deportation raids across the United States. At a time when the Trump 
administration is claiming that it does not have enough money to deal 
with the humanitarian crisis at the Southwest border, it is puzzling 
how DHS has enough resources to conduct large-scale raids all across 
the United States. How is there money for raids that would terrorize 
communities yet not enough money for providing soap, blankets, and 
toothbrushes for children in the government's custody?
  Repeatedly, this administration has chosen to implement policies that 
cost more and are less efficient in order to pursue its extreme 
immigration agenda. If ICE and CBP are in need of extra funding, then 
they should implement policies that save money, like further utilizing 
alternatives to detention, ATDs. The government's own statistics

[[Page S4673]]

demonstrate that ATDs work and save money.
  People are frightened, and they are returning to the shadows. It is 
weakening the safety of our communities, and it is an affront to the 
ideals of the United States. I will not support funding which further 
endangers the lives of immigrants who have every right to remain in 
this country and those fleeing violence and seeking shelter in our 
country. Those of us in positions of power have an obligation to stand 
up for all people and stand against abuses especially at the hands of 
our government. Instead of rubberstamping additional funding, I will 
continue to do this and hold this administration accountable. Thank 
you.

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