Congresswoman Ramirez Criticizes Use of Community Pain as Political Stunt to Impeach Mayorkas

Washington, DC -During today’s mark-up to impeach the U.S. Department of Homeland Security  Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), the Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, reminded her Republican colleagues that manipulating the collective pain of communities and asylum seekers to persecute Secretary Mayorkas won’t solve the humanitarian crisis within our border.

“For more than 18 hearings, I’ve heard my colleagues talk about how worried they are about the ‘open borders’ and how it is hurting our communities. Yet, instead of working on solutions to these horrible and painful realities, Republicans continue using our pain for their political spectacle,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. 

Congresswoman Ramirez reminded the room how Republicans promised two mothers who lost their children an opportunity to speak directly to Secretary Mayorkas during the second impeachment hearing, even when Mayorkas informed Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) that he was not able to appear and asked for additional dates. The mothers were forced to relieve the pain and trauma of losing their children during the televised hearing. 

“My colleagues say they care about the pain of our communities. But back on Jan 18 - they invited to testify- under false pretenses - mothers who lost their children just to parade their pain in front of cameras. My colleagues say they care about thousands of migrants fleeing their homes, dying in the Rio Grande, and being inhumanly denied asylum, yet they celebrate draconian laws, put in place by Republican governors, that are literally killing mothers and children,” added Ramirez. “There is dissonance between what you say and your actions. But today, hopefully in a few moments, I will be presenting you with the opportunity to support solutions and show that you care.”

Full remarks video available here.

BACKGROUND

Congresswoman Ramirez is the proud daughter of immigrants, the wife of a Dreamer, representative of IL-03, and the Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez has worked tirelessly to humanely address immigration, bring resources back to the district, and has stood against the scapegoating of immigrant communities.

• Congresswoman Ramirez is co-leading the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act, legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients.
• Congresswoman Ramirez led colleagues of Illinois, New York, and California delegations on a congressional letter urging the Biden Administration to ensure interior cities receive no less than $5 billion in federal resources and support needed to provide shelter and essential life-saving services to asylum seekers.
• Congresswoman Ramirez also sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging legislators to avoid using immigrants as a bargaining chip during budget negotiation, abandon three decades of failed policy, and address immigration beyond the border.
• Congresswoman Ramirez (IL-03) joined Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) to introduce a resolution calling for the abandonment of the Monroe Doctrine and develop an approach to foreign policy that advances our collective interests and builds a stronger coalition in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Congresswoman Ramirez is co-leading the Immigrant Detained Persons Legal Rights Act, legislation to directly address human and due process rights violations occurring in immigrant detention centers.

Back on January 10, Congresswoman Ramirez presented 16 policy actions Congress must take action at the first Secretary Mayorkas’  impeachment hearing.