My thoughts and prayers go out to Congressman Steve Scalise, his staff, and the brave men and women of the Capitol Police. If the Capitol Police Officers assigned to Whip Scalise had not been there, the events that unfolded at the Congressional Baseball Practice would have been much worse.
Earlier today, I introduced the Family Reunification Act. This legislation would require the federal government to reunite children that had been recently separated from their parents at the southern border. For years, partisan bickering has prevented meaningful immigration reform from being achieved. It is my hope that by reuniting children with their parents, the Family Reunification Act will build bipartisan momentum for solutions that strengthen border security and reform our outdated immigration system. You can read the text of the legislation here https://huizenga.house.gov/uploadedfiles/6.21.18.huizenga.reunification.legislation.pdf
It was great to discuss how tax reform is raising wages, creating jobs, and helping small businesses grow with Joel and Michelle from Twin Lake and NFIB small business members from across Michigan.
The Administration must end the policy of separating children from their families immediately. If the Administration is unwilling to do so, then the House should immediately pass narrowly tailored legislation to end separations. While there are divisions on other areas of immigration, there is broad bipartisan support to put an end to this inhumane policy.
What is happening at the border is heartbreaking. I'm committed to leading a bipartisan, bicameral effort to find a humane solution that ends automatic separations and keeps families together. I have reached out to both Republican and Democrat offices in search of a workable bipartisan solution.
I am encouraged by the pro-active changes being made to the legislation that addresses family separations, DACA, and border integrity being considered by the House this week. Tonight’s meeting with President Trump provides an opportunity to work toward modernizing our immigration system and providing resolution to the crisis along the southern border.
The United States is a nation of laws, but it is also a nation of compassion. It’s clear the catch and release policy implemented by the previous Administration failed to stem the tide of people entering the country illegally. While changes in policy are necessary, the notion of automatically separating families runs counter to my values as a father as well as the core values of our nation. We must find a legislative solution that balances our compassion with the fact that some individuals are exploiting loopholes in our immigration system and actively trafficking children across the border. This week the House is scheduled to address the issue of border integrity, DACA, and family separation. There is an opportunity to have a workable bipartisan solution if we can stop the partisan bickering and actually put our nation first.
