SOUTHERN BORDER REGION -- U.S. Congressional Reps. Jeff Denham (R-CA), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Will Hurd (R-TX) and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair, Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), announced today that they had enough votes to potentially force a debate and vote on several bills that could protect Dreamers, including the bipartisan DREAM Act of 2017.
The group announced it had 237 co-sponsors to use a special rule in the House called the “Queen of the Hill,” which allows for the forced introduction of bills. The one that receives the majority of votes above the minimum 218 would pass the House.
The Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC) recognizes the leadership of these members and the U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus in urging a permanent solution for young immigrants. While SBCC supports the passage of the Dream Act, it cautions against using Dreamers as pawns to further militarize border communities.
Vicki B. Gaubeca, Interim Director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition, issued the following statement:
“ We urge Congress to get serious and pass a permanent solution for young immigrants without further militarizing our communities with walls and agents we don’t want or need. More than 80% of Americans want Dreamers to be protected, and we stand with them. Because one in five young immigrants with DACA live in the border region, passing a bill that combines damaging border enforcement with a Dream Act will place the families and loved ones of Dreamers at risk for deportation. The 15 million people who live in the southern border region have suffered enough militarization, including the recent deployment of the National Guard to our communities. Enough is enough. There is no crisis at the border. Border communities are among the safest in the nation and with Border Patrol apprehension rates at historic lows -- on average, one Border Patrol agent apprehends less than two individuals a month -- there is no need for more wall or more agents.
If the Queen of Hill rule strategy is successful, we urge congressional members to vote against any initiative that would put border communities at risk for harmful and unnecessary border enforcement measures.”
ABOUT THE 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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