Washington, DC – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) announced today that he will lead a bipartisan group of Members of Congress to Tornillo, Texas on Saturday to assess the current situation related to the detention of unaccompanied alien children and the implementation of the President’s recent Executive Order.
“As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I’m extremely concerned with our fragmented and broken immigration system. Since entering Congress, I have advocated for immigration reform that secures our borders, respects the rule of law, and protects the dignity of children brought here through no fault of their own. I firmly opposed the inhumane practice of separating children from their parents at the border. While I am hopeful that the President’s executive order will end the practice of separating families awaiting court proceedings, we must ensure that this order is properly carried out,” said Fitzpatrick. “I am confident that our bipartisan delegation’s presence in Tornillo, Texas will reinforce our constituents’ values that family separation will not be tolerated, while ensuring that Customs and Border Protection have the resources needed to ensure lawful entry of migrants into our country.”
The congressional delegation will inspect the Tornillo UAC Facility with officials from the Department of Health and Human Services. The delegation will be briefed by local leadership from both the U.S. Border Patrol (enforcement between the ports of entry) and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (operations at the ports of entry) so that the Members of Congress receive a comprehensive understanding of CBP’s operations.
They will also meet with representatives from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) where the delegation will receive a briefing and have the opportunity to ask questions related to individuals detained at border crossings and individuals seeking asylum at ports of entry.
Other Members of Congress traveling with Fitzpatrick include Reps. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Mike Coffman (R-CO), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Kathleen Rice (D-NY).
This marks Fitzpatrick’s second trip to the U.S. Southern Border. Last year, Fitzpatrick joined other members of the House Homeland Security Committee on an inspection of the Rio Grande Valley to meet with border security officials and assess evolving national security threats to the United States.