Pallone on the Trump Administration's Recent Actions to Weaponize the Office of Refugee Resettlement

Statement

Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) issued the following statement today in response to recent reports of personnel and potential policy changes in the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR):

"While the world has been absorbed with responding to the ongoing global pandemic, the Trump Administration has been quietly taking actions to weaponize ORR for immigration enforcement purposes. ORR plays a critical role in caring for and protecting some of the country's most vulnerable children, and over the past two years, this Administration has slowly chipped away at the agency's mission and its ability to ensure the health and well-being of children in its care.

"Democratic Committee leaders have continued to sound the alarm over this Administration's concerning decisions to prioritize its cruel immigration agenda over child welfare. Most recently, the Administration has furthered that prioritization by removing the Director of ORR and filling the leadership ranks of the agency with Trump loyalists and a DHS official, with no apparent experience in child welfare.

"A recent news report also indicates that the Administration is considering implementing policies that will result in the prolonged detainment of children in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Such an action would violate federal law and conflict with long-established standards of care for these vulnerable children. Trump Administration officials are also reportedly considering reinstating fingerprint background checks on all adult members of sponsor households. This policy was rightfully abandoned over a year ago after ORR's own internal analysis found it had no benefit and only lengthened the amount of time children remained in ORR care. All of these disturbing developments come in the midst of recent reports of COVID-19 outbreaks in ORR facilities, making it increasingly urgent that these children are placed with sponsors as soon as possible to ensure their safety, health and well-being.

"ORR cannot be the mechanism for accomplishing this Administration's immigration agenda. President Trump must reject these reported policy proposals, support the purpose and mission of this agency, and put children's health and welfare first.

"The Trump Administration may have thought that these actions would go unnoticed in the midst of a global pandemic, but this Committee will continue to stand up for these children -- because it is clear this Administration is unwilling to do so."

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