Condemning Republican inaction to address comprehensive immigration reform and border security.

Bill: 118-hres-1132
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
Introduced: 2024-04-10
Policy area: Immigration
Latest action: action_date: 2024-04-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-04-10
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution condemns the approach of Republican Members of Congress regarding proposed legislation on immigration.&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1132 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 10, 2024 Mr. Vasquez (for himself, Mr. Ryan , Ms. Spanberger , Ms. Budzinski , Mr. Horsford , and Ms. Salinas ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Condemning Republican inaction to address comprehensive immigration reform and border security.

Whereas the immigration system of the United States has not been comprehensively updated since 1986; Whereas the right to seek asylum is a central pillar of America’s immigration system and a core value we share as a Nation of immigrants; Whereas the consequence of our Nation’s broken immigration system is continued disruption in border communities; Whereas schools, local governments, and States have faced considerable hardships due to the inability of Congress to pass meaningful immigration reform; Whereas the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 included a pathway to citizenship, funding for border security and personnel, and reforms to America’s visa system and was voted against by all voting Senate Republicans; Whereas, in 2013, the Gang of Eight drafted the bipartisan Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, which included a pathway to citizenship, the DREAM Act, and additional funding for Customs and Border Protection and passed the Senate on June 27, 2013, but failed to pass Congress because House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner did not allow a vote on the House floor; Whereas H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act passed the House on June 4, 2019, but was blocked by Senate Republicans in the 116th Congress; Whereas H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act once again passed the House on March 18, 2021, but was blocked by Senate Republicans in the 117th Congress; Whereas Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to bring forth H.R. 16, the American Dream and Promise Act for a vote in the House despite 166 cosponsors in the 118th Congress; Whereas the Biden administration requested emergency appropriations on August 10, 2023, to hire an additional 1,300 border patrol agents; 375 immigration judge teams; 1,600 asylum officers; 1,000 Customs and Border Protection officers with a focus on counter-fentanyl; and equip Southwest border ports of entry with new cutting-edge detection technology; Whereas the bipartisan Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act was introduced in the Senate in February 2024, which included $20,000,000,000 to support Customs and Border Protection, $350,000,000 to support unaccompanied minors, funding for 4,338 new asylum officers, and $424,500,000 to combat fentanyl smuggling along with significant changes to immigration policy such as establishing a new asylum process, creation of a new authority to limit entry into the United States, and an amended process for parole; and Whereas Senator Mitch McConnell whipped his Republican Party against this bipartisan deal, Speaker Mike Johnson declared the legislation dead on arrival in the House of Representatives before any legislation had even been introduced, and Congressman Troy Nehls said Why would we do anything to help him? in reference to the President when asked about support for the bill: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) condemns Republican inaction on common-sense solutions to our Nation’s broken immigration system and the challenges our Nation faces at the border; (2) acknowledges that the interruption of lives in border communities and across the Nation is due to Republican’s historical inaction to address our Nation’s broken immigration system; (3) urges cooperation between Federal, State, and local law enforcement, governments, and education officials; and (4) should fully fund resources for the border, including asylum officers, immigration judges, security personnel, and technology needs.