[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H5313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REFORM OUR ASYLUM LAWS

  (Mr. GAETZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I have been to the detention facilities in 
Yuma, Arizona, where I have seen the individuals who committed the 
crime of unlawful entry into our country, who have been detained, and 
who are kept in undeniably wretched conditions. The stench, the level 
of care, the inadequate training and facilities provided to our 
Homeland Security officials create conditions that are ripe for the 
vulnerable to be taken advantage of and to truly be harmed.
  The question is not whether or not circumstances have fallen below 
our standards; the question is what has led to these circumstances.
  The inability of my colleagues in the majority to reform our asylum 
laws so people aren't incentivized to come to our country illegally, 
bringing small children with them, is a stain on this institution.
  The inability to secure our border so we don't have 1 percent of 
Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador moving into our country every few 
months is indefensible.
  And the inability to build a physical barrier or a wall to keep 
people from coming into our country illegally will ultimately erode the 
fabric of our Nation if we do not act quickly.
  We can resolve these problems. It wasn't too long ago the Democrats 
used to agree with us on this stuff.

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