Rep. Bonamici Statement Opposing House Border Bill & End of DACA

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) released the following statement in response to the House of Representative’s legislation to address the influx of unaccompanied minors across the U.S. border and to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

“The challenge on the border needs solutions, but the funding legislation considered in the House today fails to provide them. Instead, it mistakenly places greater emphasis on arming the border and stripping away existing rights from unaccompanied children and youth. These children are desperate for safety. Many have come to the United States to escape extreme violence and gangs. They need our help, not handcuffs.”

“This legislation is not only misguided, it was hastily forced through the House without the requisite advance publication and without a hearing. We should have addressed this issue weeks ago, when a bill could have been crafted with bipartisan support. Our constituents are demanding that we work together to address this humanitarian issue, as well as other policies to reform our immigration laws, fund infrastructure projects, and support a growing economy. Instead, this legislation was concocted last-minute and with little debate in an effort to portray some kind of action. An additional bill to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is similarly misguided and, like the border bill, was brought forward without a hearing or advance publication. This kind of political maneuvering does no service to our country or to the youth granted deferred removal because of DACA. Both bills favor politics over policy, while failing to address the humanitarian issue at hand. The American people deserve better.”