WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) urges the House of Representatives to reject H.R. 6136, an immigration bill by House Speaker Paul Ryan. The bill and the vote are expected this week, one week after a similar draconian immigration bill was voted down by the House.
“Speaker Ryan’s bill does not end the administration’s cruel zero tolerance policy toward immigrant families or put an end to family separation,” said Diane Randall, Executive Secretary of FCNL. “Congress should stop pouring money into detaining and deporting families. Instead, it should focus resources on increasing accountability and oversight of immigration and border enforcement.”
On June 20, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that was presented as a solution to families being separated at the border. The order worsened the problems at the border. The executive order continues zero tolerance criminal prosecution for entry, perpetuates family separation, and expands family detention. It also undermines due process to circumvent current child welfare protections.
Paul Ryan’s H.R. 6136 codifies these proposals. It also eliminates family and diversity visas, ramps up immigration enforcement, and reduces access to asylum.
“President Trump’s executive order does not fully end family separation. Instead, it keeps more asylum seekers, families, and vulnerable individuals unnecessarily detained,” added Randall. “Family detention is immoral and detrimental to a person’s physical, mental, and emotional health. It risks violating U.S. and international law.”
FCNL urges all members of the House to reject Paul Ryan’s proposal (H.R. 6136) and push the administration to immediately put an end to its “zero tolerance” policy of prosecuting and incarcerating everyone who crosses the border.
FCNL’s advocacy is rooted in Quaker foundations of peace, equality, simplicity, and truth. For 75 years, FCNL has worked to build pathways to peace, advocating for policies that enable the U.S. to prevent, reduce, transform and help people recover from violence in all forms.
To learn more, please visit www.fcnl.org.
Founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), FCNL lobbies Congress and the administration for U.S. policies that advance peace, justice, and good government.