Rose Statement on Conditions at the Border, Reports of Racist Comments by Agents

Statement

Congressman Max Rose today joined fellow New York City Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, Nydia M. Velázquez, Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, and Yvette Clarke at a press conference addressing the vile comments made by U.S. Customs and Border (CPB) agents in reference to immigrants and Hispanic Members of Congress. The comments, which were dismissive of the crisis on the southern border and sexually threatening to elected officials, were found in a Facebook group comprised of more than 9,000 current and former CPB agents.

"As I have said repeatedly, the conditions at the border and the disgraceful treatment of babies, children, and women is unacceptable," said Rose. "It is a direct result of the callous disregard this President has shown to human beings who are fleeing from violence, starvation, and other horrors. The conditions in the camps must not be allowed to continue and that is why I voted to ensure money went directly to fixing the issues there. It is incumbent on all members of Congress to hold this Administration accountable and exercise our Constitutional powers to ensure the money is not only spent, but it is spent correctly. Which is why I also am planning to visit the border to see these facilities first-hand this summer."

Rose continued, "It is obvious that our system is broken right now and has been for a long time. We shouldn't have to place thousands of children in facilities meant for nowhere near that number because Congress has failed to do its job for decades. Congress should confront this crisis with the urgency it deserves. Congress should cancel recess, and any future ones, because those suffering on the border cannot wait."

Last week, as the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement was close to running out of funding, Rose supported a House bill to provide critical humanitarian aid to those at the border with strict guardrails on how the money can be spent. Following the Senate voting down the proposal, Rose voted to pass the bipartisan Senate version, which prohibits transfers of any Department of Homeland Security funding to any other purpose.

Rose released a statement following last week's vote saying, "I strongly supported putting as many guardrails as possible into this legislation because the President has demonstrated a callous disregard for the suffering of newborn babies and children simply because they are fleeing unconscionable violence which is why I supported the House bill earlier this week and would have voted for the House proposal this morning. However, that bill did not come to the floor and we were presented with a bipartisan Senate bill which possesses a large number of those protections, even if not all of the ones I wanted. But I'm here to make progress, which this bill does, and is why I voted in favor of it. I am disappointed, but I will not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, especially when the lives of children are on the line."

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