Ramirez Urges Administration and Congressional Leaders to Reject Inhumane, Ineffective Republican Immigration Policies

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released a statement pressing on President Biden to reject the Trump-era immigration policies being considered in the ongoing negotiations around the supplemental aid package:

“Migrants, both those seeking asylum and those waiting for Congress to create legal pathways to citizenship, must not be used as a bargaining chip in ongoing negotiations related to appropriations and supplementals. Three decades of failed policy should be enough evidence that detaining, deporting and criminalizing immigrants is not the answer to the realities of global migration.

“What our country is communicating, right now, by our actions is that Ukrainian refugees are more valuable than El Salvadorian or Venezuelan refugees. I wholeheartedly reject the idea that it is ‘leadership’ to welcome some people whose lives have been upended by war, poverty, and natural disasters while jailing others. We must uphold the humanity of all refugees and ensure they are welcomed and protected, whether they are escaping from a war in Ukraine or fleeing gang violence in Venezuela. We can provide humanitarian aid to our allies abroad while simultaneously providing humanitarian refuge here at home. 

“Do we need immigration reform? HELL YES! House Republican H.R. 2, the Child Deportation Act, is not the answer. Expedited removal is not the answer. Entrenching legal pathways to asylum is not the answer. Family detention is not the answer. Throwing billions of dollars at invasive, ineffective surveillance and military enforcement has destroyed lives and failed to successfully slow migration: it is both bad policy and grossly immoral.

“We must invest in solutions that show promise to address the root causes of migration. We need to strengthen democracies in the Americas and address our years of destabilizing foreign policy around the world. We need economic development in the Northern Triangle. We must invest in policies that recognize our interconnectedness.”

“I will vote NO on any supplemental that includes destructive, harmful, immoral, irresponsible border provisions. We must remember who sent us here and stand strong in our defense of migrant communities.” 

The statement comes after Ramirez’s participation in a press conference with the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and leading Congressional Democrats urging President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to reject Republican immigration and border proposals in the ongoing negotiations around the supplemental aid package. 

To watch the press conference, 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 throughout her first year of serving in Congress. 

• 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.
• On September 29, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez took to the floor to speak against the Republican Continuing Resolution,  H.R. 5525, the Spending Reduction and Border Security Act. The legislation conditioned funding to the government on the implementation of hurtful border policies that endangered and criminalizes immigrants and asylum seekers. Congresswoman Ramirez also presented a motion to recommit the bill and called on her colleagues to vote against it. The legislation failed.
• Congresswoman led colleagues of Illinois, New York, and California delegations on a congressional letter echoing the requests made by the mayors of Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York City, 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.
• On November 15, 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.
• On November 29, Congresswoman Ramirez took to the House Floor to blast Republicans’ irrational and irresponsible rejection of popular, common-sense policies that could address immigration and called out their efforts to asylum seekers as bargaining chips during the supplemental negotiations.