Congress Should Resolve Border Funding Issues, then Address Root Causes

(Arlington, VA) – Last night the House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing funding legislation to address the worsening situation at the southern border. The House bill includes $4.5 billion in funds for food, water, and medical assistance, and would impose new conditions for care of unaccompanied children. Unlike the bill passed in the Senate, the House bill includes no funds for additional asylum judges – which could help reduce the existing asylum backlog – and bars any funds from being used for border enforcement. It is not clear when or if Congressional leaders will attempt to reconcile these differences and others, so that a consensus measure may be passed and signed into law.

Daniel Garza, President of The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement:

“It’s welcome news that both the House and Senate recognize the extraordinary nature of the challenges the U.S. is currently facing at the southern border, and have passed legislation to begin to address it. Now it’s important for leaders in Washington to work together on a consensus package that can be enacted promptly. Congress and the White House have to ensure that the U.S. and its agencies are equipped to adequately and humanely execute our immigration laws. And once this supplemental effort is resolved, Congress needs to work on legislation that more directly goes to the root causes driving the border situation. We will work with anyone in support of that important effort.”

For interviews with a representative from The LIBRE Initiative, please contact Brian Faughnan, 202-805-1581 or Wadi Gaitan, 202-853-4433

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