Manchin Statement on Border Crisis Vote
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today issued the following statement on voting to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, which would address the influx of Central American children crossing America’s border.
“Today, I voted to begin debate on legislation that focuses on several emergencies our country is facing right now and must be immediately addressed. However, without major changes, I cannot support this bill as it stands today. We need to include revisions to close loopholes in the 2008 immigration law so that there is the same deportation timetable for individuals from Central American countries as those from Mexico and Canada. The process should be the same for all of these countries. Yet, as a nation, we must remain compassionate and recognize that under humanitarian circumstances asylum will be evaluated and granted to those in need. Our country should never turn our back on children who need our help.
“However, it is important that we send the message that our borders are closed to those who enter illegally. It is time to say ‘enough is enough.’ We should make sure that the funds in this bill are being used to secure our borders and discourage others from coming here illegally.
“While I strongly support policies in this emergency package, including aid to Israel to help deflect missile attacks and funds to battle the dangerous and devastating wild fires in the West, reforms must be made to our immigration policies before Congress votes on final passage of this legislation. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address our mounting border crisis.”
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