6 DEC 2023

Immigration Hub Responds to Senate Vote On National Security Supplemental Funding Package

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate will vote to advance a bipartisan supplemental funding package for formal consideration. The $110.5 billion package includes foreign aid for Israel and Ukraine, humanitarian assistance for Gaza, and critical investments in the southern border aimed at resourcing asylum processing capacity and curbing fentanyl trafficking.

Immigration Hub Executive Director Kerri Talbot issued the following statement in response:

“With a majority of Senators supporting the elements of this supplemental budget request, Senator Schumer’s effort to bring the package to the Senate floor should have bipartisan support. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans have decided to hold the entire package hostage in pursuit of radical anti-immigration policy changes.

“Senate Republicans say that unless the supplemental includes major elements of HR 2, a Trumpian exercise in xenophobia that passed with only Republican votes in the House, they will tank the bill before the debate even starts. As a result, prospects are dimming for ongoing support of Ukraine as it stands up to Vladimir Putin and critical investments in asylum processing and border security.

“The GOP’s message is crystal clear. Senate Republicans are more interested in playing politics in the run up to the 2024 elections than in voting today to advance the national security interests of the United States. They want to preen and posture to their base regarding the border, even if it means we signal weakness and division to the world.

“It is worth noting that the Immigration Hub does not support every aspect of border-related funding included in the Democrats’ budget proposal. For example, we oppose the dramatic proposed increase in detention beds that will cause harm to immigrants. But we support the thrust of the proposal, which is to facilitate the processing of asylum applicants and provide support to communities receiving asylum-seekers throughout the nation. Investments in an under-resourced and backlogged asylum system is what’s needed so that life-and-death decisions regarding refugee status are made in a way that is faster and fairer.  

“Meanwhile, as the price for their support of the budget supplemental, Senate Republicans are insisting on far-reaching and permanent policy changes that will gut asylum protections, mandate detention and severely restrict legal immigration. We do need policy changes to our outdated and dysfunctional immigration system, but through a considered and bipartisan approach that centers measures such as relief for undocumented immigrants, including Dreamers, and promotes fairness and humanity in our immigration system. We stand ready for such a legislative debate. We stand in opposition to hostage negotiations where one side demands everything in exchange for something they already support.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.