Denouncing the Biden Administration's Open-Borders Policies, Condemning the National Security and Public Safety Crisis Along the Southwest Border, and Urging President Biden to End His Administration's Open- Borders Policies

Floor Speech

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Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, there is no denying that our immigration system is broken and so deteriorated. The last time that Congress passed any immigration reform, real reform, was in 1996. That was 28 years ago.

It is not just Democrats or Republicans to blame. Frankly, both parties have completely failed to find the courage to really, truly dig deep and fix our broken immigration system. Prison first, humanity later doesn't work. We have a responsibility to act.

I have to tell you, as a former immigration attorney, I remember U.S. citizens waiting 10 years or more just to bring their children over, and it is even longer for those in Mexico. Siblings wait 12, 15, even 20 years to unite with their family members. The system is completely broken and does not work for our country.

Our immigrant neighbors deserve to live with human dignity, stability, and equal recognition as valued members of communities.

Right now, we have so many U.S. citizens who cannot have their immigrant spouses adjust their status here in the United States. Look it up.

It is so important to understand that we need to protect our immigration process by actually making sure it meets the needs of our country. For far too long, millions of our immigrant neighbors have waited in limbo while they face numerous challenges and obstacles to obtain legal status and a pathway to citizenship.

Please remember that migrants and asylum seekers come to our country to escape violence and seek a better life for their families. They should not be vilified, locked in cages, or dehumanized.

I ask all of us to please stop with the fearmongering. These policies are rooted in racism, xenophobia, and white nationalism. We must change our course.

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