Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García Opposes Senate Version of Border Supplemental Bill

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) issued the following statement upon voting against the Senate version of the Emergency Border Supplemental Bill:

"Today, I voted no on Senator Mitch McConnell's Emergency Border Supplemental because the bill fails to provide the funds or accountability measures needed to protect children in U.S. custody being held in conditions that would be classified as child abuse by any child welfare agency in the United States.

"On Wednesday I voted for the House version of this bill, which enforced accountability and included stronger restrictions on the use of funds by the Administration, and issued this statement.

"The Senate bill provides over $280 million more than the House version for Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), along with $144 million for the Department of Defense. It also fails to restrict President Trump from diverting funds intended to improve the conditions of children in detention toward deportation raids.

"Today's bill falls short on vital protections for children and important accountability measures, including the ability to shut down facilities that fail to comply with health and safety standards under the Flores Agreement. The Administration's gross mismanagement of funds and its refusal to recognize the humanity of migrants require that I take a stand. I am a proud American immigrant, as many in my community are, and I oppose the Senate Border Supplemental.

This short-sighted, insufficient bill provides only temporary relief and lacks oversight mechanisms to ensure that the conditions of people in detention improve. Its passage further underscores our urgent need to overhaul a broken, racist immigration system that criminalizes families seeking asylum, refuge, and opportunity.