06.11.19

Durbin: President Trump Is Most Anti-Immigrant President In History & Weakest On Border Security

In today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Durbin calls on Republicans to work with Democrats on bipartisan response to Central American humanitarian crisis

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today called on Senate Republicans to work with Democrats on smart, effective, and humane solutions to the humanitarian crisis at the southwest border.  During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham’s Secure and Protect Act, Durbin stated that he cannot support this proposed legislation because it would not solve the crisis at our border and would overturn critical humanitarian protections for children, subjecting them to prolonged detention and deportation without adequate due process.

“We have to acknowledge the obvious – President Trump’s immigration and border security policies are certifiable failures, and we have learned that we cannot count on his Administration to work with us on rational immigration policy,” Durbin said.  “This Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, must assert its constitutional authority.  I would ask the Chairman to work with Democrats on a bipartisan, smart, effective, and humane answer to this challenge.”  

Video of Durbin’s opening remarks in Committee are available here.

Audio of Durbin’s opening remarks in Committee is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s opening remarks in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

Last month, Senate Democrats reintroduced a major legislative proposal to address the root causes of the Central American migrant crisis.  The Central America Reform and Enforcement Act would: 

  • Provide conditional assistance to Northern Triangle governments to address the root causes of the violence and instability that are driving migration. 
  • Crack down on smugglers, cartels, and traffickers exploiting children and families. 
  • Minimize border crossings by expanding refugee processing in the region. 
  • Enhance monitoring of unaccompanied children after they are processed at the border. 
  • Ensure fair, orderly and efficient processing of those who do reach our border seeking protection. 

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