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Congressman Vela Opposes Legislation which Removes Due Process Rights for Unaccompanied Children, Funds Deployment of National Guard Troops to U.S.-Mexico Border

Washington, DC--This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5230, the House Border Crisis Supplemental Package, and H.R. 5272, the No New DREAMers Act. Importantly, this legislation passed only after Republican leadership changed House procedural rules to allow for a vote with little debate or warning. Congressman Filemon Vela voted against both bills.

H.R. 5230 strips due process rights from immigrant children to expedite their deportations while including $70 million to fund deployment of the National Guard to the Southern Border.  Instead of including funds for economic assistance to Central America, the bill does the exact opposite—redirecting $40 million in foreign aid for “repatriation assistance.”  Equally troubling is H.R. 5272 which prohibits expansion of the successful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program.  DACA protects immigrants brought as children to the U.S. from deportation by offering them temporary status so they may lawfully work in the U.S.  This proposal may put DREAMers at risk of deportation and prevents them from being able to renew their work permits, or keep their driver’s licenses.

“I strongly oppose today’s legislation, which is woefully inadequate to address the surge of children entering our country and eviscerates the DACA Program,” said Congressman Vela. “Rather than addressing the root causes of this problem in Central America, this legislation funds the deployment of the National Guard along the Southern Border and reduces foreign aid.” 

“Instead of hastily passing this controversial legislation and then going on a month long recess, Congress needs to stay to address this issue thoroughly and work on a bill that truly addresses the root problems,” he said.

“We need to pass a bill that provides the needed resources to address cartel activity in Central America, Mexico and across the U.S. We also need to provide support to Customs and Border Protection and the necessary tools, technology and funding to increase the number of agents and support personnel on the Southern Border,” Congressman Vela said. “Finally, we need to pass a bill that funds the immigration court system to allow for speedier determinations pursuant to current law while protecting due process rights afforded to these children by the U.S. Constitution.”

Last week, Congressman Vela met with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and South Texas elected officials and faith-based organizations to discuss their opposition to lessening due process rights for unaccompanied children and the recent deployment of National Guard troops to South Texas. 

Attendees at the meeting included: President of the Jesuit Conference Father Thomas H. Smolich, Executive Director of RGV Catholic Charities Sister Norma Pimentel, Texas State Representative Armando Martinez, City of Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez, City of Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia, City of Pharr Mayor Leopoldo “Polo” Palacios, Cameron County Commissioner David Garza, City of Edinburg Manager Ramiro Garza, Hidalgo County Chief Administrator Yolanda Chapa and attorneys Jaime Diez, Lisa Brodyaga, and Rene Ramirez. 

Importantly, none of the meeting participants expressed any support for reducing the due process rights of immigrant children, modifying the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, or deploying National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.

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