SOUTHERN BORDER/WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, a group of 50 House Republicans and Democrats announced a bipartisan bill that provides Dreamers with a pathway to citizenship with a balanced approach to border policy that includes consultation with local stakeholders. Reps. Will Hurd (R-Texas) and Pete Aguilar (D-California) introduced the Uniting and Securing America (USA) Act during a press conference in Washington D.C.

The announcement comes as young immigrants from across the country rally in DC and as the government faces a Friday deadline to vote on a bill to keep the government open.

Christian Ramirez, director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition, said the following:

“The narrow, bipartisan bill presented in the House of Representative is an opportunity for Congress to fix a crisis created by President Trump when he ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The USA Act is a rare display of bipartisanship in a polarized Congress, and we commend Rep. Hurd and Rep. Aguilar for leading this balanced effort that takes into account border communities.

Over the last two decades, the United States has militarized the southern border region with little regard to its negative impact on our communities. That is why we call upon Congress to ensure that border policies are based on facts -- not fiction. The borderlands are safe, thriving, diverse and vibrant; Congress must protect the quality of life of the 15 million people who call the southern border region home.

Any bills that include border enforcement policies must be balanced and based on data, analysis, and consultation with border stakeholders. The USA Act provides a balanced approach to the border while at the same time providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. We urge Congress to do what is best for the nation and move quickly on a bipartisan solution to protect immigrant youth without further militarizing the southern border.”

About Southern Border Communities Coalition

The Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC) brings together organizations from San Diego, California, to Brownsville, Texas, to ensure that border enforcement policies and practices are accountable and fair, respect human dignity and human rights, and prevent the loss of life in the region.

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