Pelosi and Valley Officials Express Opposition to Removing Due Process of Unaccompanied Children

WASHINGTON D.C. — House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi hosted a meeting with Congressman Filemon Vela (D-Brownsville), Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-Mercedes), Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio), Congressman Beto O'Rourke (D-El Paso), Congressman Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth), South Texas elected officials and faith-based organizations to discuss their opposition to lessening due process rights for unaccompanied children and the recent deployment of National Guard troops to South Texas.

Attendees at the meeting included: President of the Jesuit Conference Father Thomas H. Smolich, Executive Director of RGV Catholic Charities Sister Norma Pimentel, Texas State Representative Armando Martinez, City of Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez, City of Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia, City of Pharr Mayor Leopoldo Palacios, Cameron County Commissioner David Garza, City of Edinburg Manager Ramiro Garza, Hidalgo County Chief Administrator Yolanda Chapa and attorneys Jaime Diez, Lisa Brodyaga, and Rene Ramirez.
Importantly, none of the meeting participants expressed any support for reducing the due process rights of immigrant children, modifying the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, or deploying National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Last month, Leader Pelosi visited Brownsville to tour a Border Patrol facility where unaccompanied children were detained and met with local advocacy groups. Since her trip to Brownsville, President Obama has submitted a $3.7 billion emergency supplemental funding request to Congress focused on:

• Deterrence, including increased detainment and removal of adults with children and increased immigration court capacity to speed cases
• Enforcement, including enhanced interdiction and prosecution of criminal networks, increased surveillance, and expanded collaborative law enforcement task force efforts
• Foreign Cooperation, including improved repatriation and reintegration, stepped-up public information campaigns, and efforts to address the root causes of migration
• Capacity, including increased detainment, care, and transportation of unaccompanied children.

During today's meeting, participants agreed that the funds requested by the President are desperately needed to deal with unaccompanied children entering through the Rio Grande Valley.

"Leaders from across the Rio Grande Valley, who are dealing directly with the unaccompanied children and their families, know firsthand what is most needed on the border and they all agree that sending National Guard troops to the border is not a solution to this humanitarian issue," said Congressman Hinojosa. "The Rio Grande Valley is not suffering from public health issues or violence from the immigrants so there is no need to militarize the border. Doing so would be an affront to the good qualities our region has to offer."

Congressman Hinojosa added, "Earlier today I met with the Presidents of the countries of Central America to discuss solutions to the wave of refugees coming from their countries to the United States. There is incredible poverty, violence and threats from gangs and drug cartels. This is the very root of the problem that needs to be addressed. We need federal funding to help them and funding to assist our communities who are bearing the financial brunt of caring for these immigrants in need."

"As today's meeting made clear, many South Texans do not support the HUMANE Act's expedited removal process or deployment of the National Guard to the Rio Grande Valley," said Congressman Vela. "A better approach is to: (1) provide the needed resources to address cartel activity in Central America, Mexico and across the U.S.; (2) support Customs and Border Protection by providing the necessary funding to increase the number of agents and support personnel; and (3) provide funding to the immigration court system to allow for speedier determinations pursuant to current law while protecting due process requirements of the U.S. Constitution."

Executive Director of RGV Catholic Charities Sister Norma Pimentel noted, "This humanitarian crisis is an opportunity to share our American values; let us not forget that these migrants are human beings, they are children of God that must be treated with respect and compassion."

Texas State Representative Armando Martinez explained, "Deploying the National Guard is the wrong approach and sends the wrong message; we have a vibrant border community that is safe. Those dollars could be better spent in the community for education, healthcare and transportation."

City of Pharr Mayor Leo Palacios, Jr. noted, "My father came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1913 as a 13 year old boy, scared and penniless as a refugee from the Mexican revolution. He crossed the Rio Grande River along with his younger brothers and sisters, seven in all, seeking safety and refuge from the violence occurring in Mexico at the time. He and his brothers and sisters settled in Pharr, Texas just a few miles from the river they crossed. During the rest of their lives he and his brothers and sisters gave more than they took. His story is not unlike what is happening today. Yes it is 100 years later and many things have changed but what cannot change are the basic principles which have made our country the greatest country in the world today."

"Senator John Cornyn and Representative Henry Cuellar are both good friends of mine and I respect them greatly," Mayor Palacios stated. "However, I in good conscience cannot support the immigration bill they have put forth. That would be the ultimate act of hypocrisy and contrary to what I have worked for all of my life. That 13 year old refugee from Mexico was accepted by our country and allowed to live in peace, start a life, obtain his citizenship, and contribute his fair share to his new country."

"The intense rhetoric surrounding the migration of these children to the U.S. is hurting potential economic opportunities that could benefit South Texas. The fact is that these children do not pose a security threat to our border region. We certainly do not need the National Guard deployed to the Rio Grande Valley," stated Cameron County Commissioner David Garza.

City of Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez noted, "Deploying the National Guard along the Texas-Mexico Border could have a chilling effect on economic development projects. Dealing with the influx of unaccompanied children requires increased resources to fairly adjudicate these children's cases and ensure they have legal representation."
"The United States has always supported the rights and needs of refugees around the world. But when it comes to refugees on our own border, we seem to be forgetting what we stand for. I hope we as a nation can respond to the children and families fleeing harm and arriving at our border with care, respect, and due process. Our Christian values, our American values insist we do so," said Father Thomas H. Smolich, President of the Jesuit Conference.

City of Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia remarked, "The $12 million per month that it is estimated to cost to deploy the National Guard along the Texas border could be much better spent on economic development programs or to provide education to our children. Crime statistics along the border are relatively low compared to other parts of the state. Deploying the National Guard to turn away immigrants is not in line with our American values."

Hidalgo County Chief Administrator Yolanda Chapa explained, "This is not a security crisis, and South Texas residents do not feel threatened by these unaccompanied children entering the U.S. Our border community has compassionately responded to helping these children who are fleeing violence in their home countries."