Brownley Statement on GOP Immigration Bills
Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) issued the following statement today regarding her votes in the U.S. House of Representatives on H.R. 3003 and H.R. 3004:
“We absolutely must do more to protect Americans from criminal aliens attempting to illegally re-enter the country. I have long supported legislation to increase sentences for criminals who have previously been deported and believe that those who have committed a crime and attempt to re-enter the United States should face stiffer penalties. However, I am opposed to a provision of this legislation that would make it a felony for innocent refugees, or those fleeing domestic abuse, warfare, or gang violence, to attempt to seek refuge in our country.”
“Many of those coming to our nation in search of a safe haven do not have the legal resources to hire an attorney to help them navigate the complicated refugee and asylum processes. Under H.R. 3004, those individuals, who have never committed a crime, could be charged with a felony and face up to two years in federal prison, simply for showing up at a border crossing and asking for help or asylum. This is fundamentally wrong and inhumane.”
“The United States must not turn away from one of our most core values: welcoming those in need of safety and protection. We can—and we must—safeguard our borders and uphold our long-standing commitments to those fleeing persecution and violence.”
“Rather than making hasty decisions based on fear, we need carefully thought-out policies to fix our broken immigration system. That is why I continue to support legislation similar to the bipartisan Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (H.R. 15) from the 113th Congress, which would have strengthened our borders, saved the American taxpayers almost $1 trillion, and reflected our values as a nation.”
“Regarding H.R. 3003, state and local jurisdictions should absolutely cooperate with federal law enforcement to ensure our laws are being implemented and dangerous criminals are taken off the streets. But punishing our local communities by taking away police resources will clearly undermine that goal and actively make us less safe.”
“We need comprehensive immigration reform that will provide an earned path to citizenship, make our borders more secure, and better demonstrate our country’s ideals.”
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