Schneider Completes Visit to U.S.-Mexico Border to Investigate Impact of Trump Administration Immigration Policies

Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL) completed a two-day congressional delegation visit to the southern border in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico to investigate the impact of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

"This was an eye-opening visit. We face a humanitarian crisis at our southern border, I saw firsthand how the cruel actions of the Trump Administration are worsening the situation and increasing suffering. In particular, the policy requiring people legally seeking asylum to remain in Mexico for months while their claim is slowly processed means individuals and families, many with young children, are forced to live in uncertain, overcrowded, and dangerous conditions. I will return to Congress with a renewed advocacy for bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform that both secures our border and reforms our broken and overwhelmed immigration system. I also remain committed to sending aid to the countries in the Golden Triangle to address the violence and economic hardship causing the migration crisis," said Schneider.

In Ciudad Juárez, Schneider toured Casa Migrante, the city's largest migrant shelter, and met with U.S. consulate staff.

In El Paso, Schneder toured the Paseo del Norte Bridge and Processing Facility, including the Customs and Border Patrol facilities where migrants are processed and detained. He also participated in a roundtable meeting with immigration advocates, toured an Office of Resettlement Facility that houses migrant children, and visited an ICE detention center to observe conditions of migrants in government custody.

The delegation included 23 Democratic Members of Congress, and was led by Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Democratic Caucus Chairman Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). Fellow Illinois Members of Congress Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) , and Bill Foster (IL-11) also attended the trip.