WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Republicans brought their proposal to address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border before the U.S. House of Representatives, after being forced to withdraw an earlier version when they failed to gain enough votes for the bill’s passage. This bill represents only 17 percent of the Administration’s $3.7 billion request for emergency assistance to respond to the influx of unaccompanied minors at the border. It also removes critical protections authorized in a 2008 law providing due process to immigrant children in order to determine if they are facing danger or are victims of persecution or trafficking and qualify for asylum or refugee status. Following House passage of the Republican bill in a 223 to 189 vote, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) released the following statement:

“Rather than addressing the humanitarian crisis by providing adequate resources to secure our border, hire additional immigration judges, and properly process and care for the unaccompanied children, Republican leadership deferred to the most radical voices in their caucus. This is about children and it’s time Republicans stopped playing politics with children’s lives. America has a proud and long history of defending basic human rights and we have a responsibility to make decisions that honor those values and serve the best interest of these children. We must ensure they are not being returned to face abuse, trafficking or violence back home. This bill fails to address the immediate humanitarian crisis at the border by denying critical funds to beef up immigration courts and enforcement at the border, undermining laws that protect children from life threatening situations in foreign countries, and guaranteeing another emergency in the near future. Tonight the House is also expected to eliminate the ability of some DREAMERS, children who were brought into this country by their parents without proper documents, to pursue legal status if they meet certain benchmarks. To add insult to injury, this bill is presented and passed to activate the Republican party political base and has no chance of becoming law. President Obama today stated he would veto this terrible legislation if it makes it to his desk. It’s clear House Republicans are playing political games at the expense of children and the American people.

“I support a long-term bipartisan solution that would address the immediate humanitarian crisis and fix our broken immigration system. After more than a year of inaction, it’s long past time House Republicans took up comprehensive immigration reform to protect children, secure the border, reduce the deficit and create jobs.”