Fighting to Keep Families Together
As your United States Representative, I work every day to uphold and protect the values that we hold dear on the central coast of California. When the Trump Administration implemented its "zero tolerance" policy for unlawful border crossings, including asylum appeals, I urged the end of this practice, which clearly is against what we stand for in our community and country.
The Administration chose to implement this policy which separates children from their parents without any reunification plan. The decision is unique to the Administration, as previous administrations did not intentionally separate all migrant families. That is why Democrats and Republicans are speaking out against such a compassionless policy that causes such harm to families who are fleeing a nightmare to live the American Dream.
On Tuesday, I co-introduced the Keep Families Together Act, H.R. 6135, which would protect children from being needlessly separated from their parents. The legislation prohibits arbitrary separation of children and parents, establishes a family unity preference, discourages the separation of siblings, and requires development of reunification policies and procedures. Read more about it here.
On Wednesday, the President signed an Executive Order to end his self-imposed family separation policy. However, the Administration will continue its "zero tolerance" policy and implement the joint detention of children and parents. Seeking asylum is not illegal, and the indefinite incarceration of children is prohibited by law.
I continue to work with my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to address the Trump Administration's "zero tolerance" policy and achieve comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform.
Click on the picture below to view my remarks on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on the Keep Families Together Act.
