Latino Caucus Calls on Congress to Stand for Refugees, Reject Funding of Trump Program

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement calling on Congress to reject a budget that allocates funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Migrant “Protection” Protocols (MPP), a federal program that endangers the lives of individuals seeking asylum: 

“At a time when Illinois is leading by example in creating the most welcoming state in the nation, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus calls on Congress to stand with immigrant communities by not supporting a budget that continues to fund an immigration detention process that has resulted in countless deaths, a blank check for Trump’s wall, and a system that leaves refugees stranded at the border in extremely dangerous and life-threatening conditions.

“Illinois passed House Resolution 577 earlier this year calling on Congress to defund the Migrant ‘Protection’ Protocols because this program leaves vulnerable asylum seekers stranded in dangerous and unsanitary conditions at the southern border and systemically denies them protection from persecution. Illinois took a bold position in support of those most vulnerable, and Congress should do the same.

“Congress has an opportunity to stand on the right side of history by voting no on the budget appropriation and in opposition to fiscal impunity for the abuses committed by the Department of Homeland Security upon immigrant communities.”