IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 287 

Condemning the President’s threat to shut down the United States-Mexico 

border to the detriment of the United States economy. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 3, 2019 

Mr. CUELLAR (for himself, Ms. ESCOBAR, Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas, Mr. VELA, 

and Ms. JACKSON LEE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning the President’s threat to shut down the United 

States-Mexico border to the detriment of the United 

States economy. 

Whereas President Trump is threatening to shut down the 

United States-Mexico border if Mexico does not stop the 

flow of Central American children and families to the 

United States; 

Whereas the sudden closure of the United States-Mexico border would have grave consequences for the American 

economy, American jobs, and daily lives of American 

families, both in border communities and across every 

State in the Union; 


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•HRES 287 IH 

Whereas the unexpected supply chain disruption caused by 

suddenly closing the United States-Mexico border could 

result in work stoppages at American auto and manufacturing plants, risking the furlough of American workers 

and the shutdown of production lines; 

Whereas the disruption caused by suddenly closing the 

United States-Mexico border could result in severe shortages of many fruits, vegetables, and other fresh food, 

leading to collapsing food supplies, soaring food prices, 

and bare shelves in groceries nationwide; 

Whereas suddenly closing the United States-Mexico border 

could have further consequences on the American farm 

economy, hurting family farms, growers, pork producers, 

dairy producers, and more, leading to rotting produce 

and other disruptions felt later in the season; 

Whereas spending by Mexican tourists in the United States 

totaled $20.3 billion in 2016 alone; 

Whereas the President’s counterproductive policies have consistently worsened the situation at the United StatesMexico border; 

Whereas, since fiscal year 2016, Congress has invested more 

than $2.6 billion to support implementation of the United 

States Strategy for Engagement in Central America 

aimed at strengthening communities in the region and 

preventing children and families from making the dangerous trek from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras 

to the United States-Mexico border; 

Whereas suspending United States assistance to Central 

America will worsen conditions in Central America and 

promote increased migration to the United States; 


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•HRES 287 IH 

Whereas according to former United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Commander Admiral James Stavridis, ‘‘The best thing we could do to reduce the flow of 

refugees from Central America is to help them improve 

conditions there. Suddenly stopping all foreign aid there 

will only increase the driving forces creating the caravans 

over time, which will be even more costly to deal with on 

our border. It is like stopping your preventative medications, then wondering why you need surgery a year 

later.’’; 

Whereas only one day after the Secretary of Homeland Security entered into a promising multilateral compact with 

Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador to address migration flows, the President announced plans to terminate 

United States foreign assistance to those countries; 

Whereas the President blocking the use of funds appropriated 

by Congress for bipartisan initiatives that address the 

root causes of child and family migration from Central 

America will exacerbate the situation at the border; 

Whereas instead of working to reduce humanitarian suffering 

at the United States-Mexico border, the President has intentionally worsened conditions for asylum-seeking individuals who have a right to due process and humane 

treatment when arriving at the border; 

Whereas Congress appropriated $192,700,000 above the 

President’s budget request for fiscal year 2019 for U.S. 

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for humanitarian 

relief at the southern border, including $128,000,000 for 

contract medical professionals, $40,200,000 for food, infant formula and diapers, and $24,500,000 for transportation between CBP facilities; 


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•HRES 287 IH 

Whereas Congress appropriated funding for 484 immigration 

judge teams in fiscal year 2018, of which only 395 were 

on-board as of September 30, 2018, and provided funding for 534 immigration judge teams in fiscal year 2019; 

and 

Whereas the President’s conduct in the name of border security has consistently worsened the humanitarian needs at 

the United States-Mexico border and threatened further 

chaos in the jobs, economy, and daily lives of American 

families across the country: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) opposes the President’s reckless threatened 

3 closure of the United States-Mexico border, which 

4 would severely jeopardize the Nation’s economic, na5 tional, and homeland security interests; 

6 (2) opposes the President’s action blocking the 

7 funds appropriated by Congress to address the root 

8 causes of migration at their source, thereby need9 lessly fueling the situation at the United States-Mex10 ico border; and 

11 (3) affirms asylum-seeking individuals have a 

12 right to due process and humane treatment when ar13 riving at the United States-Mexico border, consistent 

14 with our most treasured American values as a Na15 tion that has been a beacon and a refuge to the 

16 world. 

Æ 


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