Statement on delegation border visit

Chairman Jeffries led a delegation of House Democrats on a fact-finding mission to the southern border. House Democrats visited immigration detention facilities to investigate whether or not the funds Congress has allocated are being properly used to improve conditions.

“There seems to be a deliberate attempt to undermine the asylum laws that are on the books in the United States of America.”
— Chairman Hakeem Jeffries

It’s going to require all of us to work together to put an end to the humanitarian crisis at our border, and the House Democratic Caucus stands ready to uphold our nation’s values and protect the most vulnerable.

That means standing up to the Trump administration’s new rule, which blocks nearly all asylum claims at our southern border. Turning our backs on women and children fleeing violence and persecution betrays everything our country stands for.

We must hold the Trump administration accountable when they fail to follow the rule of law. Trump’s cruel and ineffective policies of conducting ICE raids, cutting foreign aid, and threatening a wall have all backfired. And let’s not forget, Trump’s obsession with building a medieval border wall led to the longest government shutdown in history. We are so much better than this, friend. We are the greatest country in the world, and it’s time we start acting like it.