After meeting today, the Speaker’s working group issued the following statement regarding the humanitarian and national security crisis at the southern border. The working group will provide the first update to the House GOP Conference on Tuesday, July 15. The Members of the working group include: Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX), chairwoman of the working group, Chairman Bob Goodlatte (VA), Chairman Michael McCaul (TX), Chairman John Carter (TX), Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL), Congressman Steve Pearce (NM), and Congressman Matt Salmon (AZ).
“As the Speaker’s working group to address the crisis at the southern border we are extremely concerned over the well-being of children who cross our borders alone, as well as the integrity of our immigration laws. That is why the President must act to deter parents from encouraging their children to make this horrific and perilous journey based on the hope that they will be able to stay in the United States. The policies of the current Administration have created the crisis we are currently facing at our southern border and it will take Presidential action to solve it.
“We agree with the President that they must be returned to their home countries in the most humane way possible and that will require a revision of the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. In addition, the FY 2015 appropriations process is already under way in the House which addresses resources related to the current crisis. The substantial increase of family units and unaccompanied children crossing the border has created an enormous strain on Customs and Border Protection as well as the border states and communities. It is critical we ensure that the Border Patrol is able to focus on protecting the borders of the United States.
“Over the next several days we will review the facts and continue to gather on-the-ground information in order to develop a series of recommendations regarding actions the Administration can take within its authority as well as legislative solutions for the Congress to consider to address this crisis.”