Ramirez: ‘Pain shows us where healing is needed’

Washington, DC -Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), the Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, called on her colleagues to take urgent legislative action to address the pain of our communities and the deadly consequences of three decades of Congressional inaction and draconian, ineffective immigration policies. 

During the 2nd Republican-led hearing to impeach the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, titled  “Voices for the Victims: The Heartbreaking Reality of the Mayorkas Border Crisis,” Ramirez uplifted the stories of asylum seekers who have died because of cruel policy choices and willful obstruction of intergovernmental coordination. 

“There are so many examples of the consequences of a cold disregard for our shared humanity and the absence of compassion. The pain is palpable across our communities, immigration statuses, and political identities when it comes to the humanitarian crisis within our borders and the cost of Congressional inaction,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “Pain shows us where healing is needed.” 

Ramirez also pointed out at least 12 policy proposals that Congress should pursue to address the root causes of migration, protect our communities, and help heal the pain in our communities. Congresswoman Ramirez presented  16 policy actions Congress must take action at the first Secretary Mayorkas’  impeachment hearing. 

“To heal, we have to actually talk about comprehensive immigration reform and have a conversation about why thousands of people want to cross our southern border,” continued Ramirez. 

The congresswoman concluded her turn by emphasizing that impeachments are not an instrument for creating, effecting, or implementing the policy changes necessary to address the border and immigration policy.

“Think about how politicized this moment is…Republicans are not interested in advancing policy change. If they were, they would stop these impeachment hearings and work with us to pass legislation,” said Ramirez. “If we were serious about this process and solutions, we would respect people’s humanity and move to a collaborative approach where our neighboring countries are able to address the root causes, [we] keep communities safe, and honor the very fabric of our multiracial, multicultural democracy.”

The GOP-led hearing included the testimonies of mothers who lost their daughters in conditions claimed to be related to the border. The Republican witnesses included: 

● Josephine Dunn, Private citizen, Arizona

● Tammy Nobles, Private citizen, Maryland 

The Democratic witness was Deborah Pearlstein, Professor in Law and Public Affairs at Princeton University and expert in impeachment proceedings. 

For her complete line of questioning and witnesses' responses, click HERE. 

BACKGROUND

As 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 constant 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 at least $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.