Mayors Urge Senate Not to Abandon Critically Needed Border Compromise
Washington, D.C.— Today, the Senate failed to advance the bipartisan national security supplemental bill, which includes compromise legislation to help stabilize border security, address the humanitarian crisis, and provide support for cities that have seen a rising numbers of asylum seekers. The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) sent a letter to senators earlier this week urging passage of the bipartisan bill. In response to today’s vote, Mesa Mayor John Giles, Chair of the USCM Immigration Reform Task Force, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Vice Chair for Border Policy of the USCM Criminal and Social Justice Committee, released the following statement.
“America’s mayors denounce the obstruction of this bipartisan legislation. There is a crisis at our southern border, and this bill would have provided the policy changes and funding needed to help stabilize it. We cannot walk away now. We cannot simply abandon the cities across the country that are left to care for asylum seekers and other migrants.
“This is a serious problem that transcends partisan politics, and it requires a serious solution. If Congress walks away from this legislation, the crisis will not go away. It will only get worse. We urge the Senate and the House to continue working on this issue and put the country above the politics of the moment.”