May 27, 2010 – SPECIAL UPDATE: The Senate Rejected Border Amendments that Would Have Resulted In More of the Same. Today, all 3 “border security first” or “enforcement-only” amendments were defeated during debate on a supplemental appropriations package. Thanks to all who called and took a stand for sensible solutions for the SW border region!
Now we need to see the President and Congress get serious about comprehensive reform and long-term solutions – not quick fix ‘solutions’ like military hardware – to address organized crime related violence in Mexico – efforts that should include strengthening the judicial system, improved accountability for the police and robust protection of human rights. Rather than offering serious solutions, some policymakers have offered more of the same, band-aid, window dressing measures that score political points but don’t solve the problem. That includes President Obama’s decision, announced earlier this week, to send 1,200 National Guardsmen to the border. His decision directly contradicted the facts and what his own administration has been saying for months. Sending the National Guard to the border will not solve our immigration crisis.
Your senators need to hear from you NOW to halt efforts to further militarize the U.S.-Mexico border region. We understand that the Senate will be voting TODAY on a trio of harmful amendments seeking to expand misguided, enforcement-only approaches along our Southern border.
In response, we’re combining efforts with other immigration reform advocates to let our senators know that we won’t stand for the expansion of these short-sighted policies.
Have a couple minutes? Call your senators too! We need them to know that further militarization of the border is a bad idea that won’t bring us any closer to fixing our broken immigration system. Click here to find the phone number for your senators! And here’s the info you’ll need:
First, ask your senators to oppose the following amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, HR 4899:
• Sen. McCain’s Amendment #4214: calling for deployment of 6,000 National Guard troops to U.S.-Mexico border;
• Sen. Kyl’s Amendment #4228: funding for Operation Streamline (an initiative funding local law enforcement efforts to enforce immigration policy) along our Southern Border; and
• Sen. Cornyn’s Amendment #4202 which adds unnecessary enforcement personnel, National Guard, and 3,300 new detention beds to the Southern Border.
Then, make sure to tell your senators what you want to see – comprehensive immigration reform.
These amendments fail to acknowledge the important need to reform both our enforcement policies along the border and our immigration system. Please fax and/or call your senators before they vote in support of these misguided enforcement efforts.
