Velazquez on Anti-Immigrant Bills

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement regarding consideration in the House of Representatives of two anti-immigrant bills promoted by Republicans:

"Today, House Republicans are pushing another heartless attack on immigrants and their families. This ‘deportation policy' is an affront to American values and to our way of life. This policy of deportation is predicated on a politics of division.

"These measures are designed to create fear among immigrants and their families. Let's be clear – our nation is a nation of immigrants. I come from New York City. In my district – New York's 7th – at one point 86 languages were spoken – representing the depth and breadth of our nation's immigrant heritage. As I always like to say, in New York, immigrants are our neighbors. And New Yorkers stand up for their neighbors.

"But not only are these bills an affront to our values – they are poor public policy that simply will not work. The Sanctuary Cities bill would require local law enforcement to be an accomplice in enforcing federal immigration policy – or risk losing federal funds. You are telling me that a City like New York City – which always has a risk of terrorism – has to choose between federal security funds and our history of diversity? That's unacceptable. And, let's remember, when you create distrust between local law enforcement and immigration communities, we are all less safe.

"Meanwhile, H.R. 3004 would drastically increase penalties on immigrants seeking re-entry, many of whom simply wish to be reunited with their families. Yet, the bill would do nothing to make us safer. There are already laws on the books punishing people for illegally re-entering the United States.

"These bills are not about making us safer. They are about scapegoating, attacking and castigating immigrants. They are about sowing fear in immigrant communities and playing off prejudice and distrust. We are a better nation than this. We are a nation of immigrants. And we will oppose these repugnant attacks on immigrant communities."

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