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Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2203, the Homeland Security Improvement Act. H.R. 2203, the Homeland Security Improvement Act, introduced by Congresswoman Escobar, is a critical bill to address our nation’s immigration challenges at the southwest border in a responsible and humane manner by ensuring accountability, transparency, and oversight:

“El Paso, our nation’s modern-day Ellis Island, has been the epicenter of the humanitarian chaos created by the Trump administration that has been exacerbated by the lack of accountability and transparency within the Department of Homeland Security.

“Over the last nine months, El Pasoans and the whole country have witnessed with horror the death of children in federal custody, the severe and appalling overcrowding at border facilities, and the force-feeding of asylum seekers by ICE.

“Today’s passage of the Homeland Security Improvement Act will bring us closer to ensuring DHS has the accountability and oversight the agency so desperately needs while protecting our agents, officers and border communities, and affirming our nation’s commitment to helping the most vulnerable among us.

“I hope that Senator McConnell joins border communities and the House of Representatives in our battle cry for the dignity of migrant children and families and brings this bill to floor as soon as possible.”
 

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