Faith & Freedom Coalition Urges Congress To Authorize Funding For Enhanced Border Security and End Legal Limbo For Dreamers

Washington, DC – Today, Faith & Freedom Coalition Chairman Ralph Reed and Executive Director Tim Head issued a letter to members of the U.S. Senate calling on Congress to end the budget impasse by providing funding for border security and affording legal status to those brought to the United States as children.

“For the sake of our national security as well as the humane and just treatment of those arriving at our border, Faith and Freedom Coalition urges you to support a compromise that combines border security with legal status for those brought to the country illegally as children,” stated Reed and Head.

Bipartisan majorities in Congress have repeatedly voted for funds for border security far beyond President Trump’s request for $5.7 billion. There is also broad bipartisan support in Congress for allowing those brought to our country illegally through no fault of their own to fully participate in the life of our nation, provided they pass a criminal background check, pay taxes, enroll in school or join the military.

There is a humanitarian crisis at the border that requires immediate action. According to the New York Times, in November alone, 25,172 people including families and 5,283 unaccompanied minors arrived at the U.S. – Mexico border.

“Failure to act will expose thousands of women and children to the exploitation of coyotes, human traffickers, and sexual predators,” added Reed and Head. “An astonishing 68 percent of migrants report suffering violence along the journey. One out of three women reports they have been sexually abused and assaulted. These are children and young people who will suffer trauma and emotional scars for the rest of their lives unless Congress acts now.”

Congress should end the current budget impasse by enacting legislation that provides funding previously authorized by Congress for the construction of additional miles of border barrier and other critical aspects of border security while ending the legal limbo for Dreamers by affording legal status to those brought to the United States as children.