Texas Border Business
WESLACO—U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) toured immigrant detention facilities for children in South Texas and hold a roundtable at the Weslaco Border Patrol Station tomorrow.
Sens. Cornyn and Cruz have introduced legislation to end the separation of immigrant parents and children at the border. The Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act:
- requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to keep immigrant families together at residential centers pending the outcome of their immigration proceedings;
- sets mandatory standards of care for family residential centers; authorizes more than 200 new immigration judges and requires the DHS Secretary and Attorney General to expedite the court proceedings of children and families; and
- keeps children safe by requiring a child be removed from the care of an individual in the following cases:
- the individual presents a clear danger to the health and safety of the child,
- DHS cannot verify that the individual is actually the parent of the child,
- the parent of the child has a violent history of committing aggravated felonies,
- the child has been a victim of sexual or domestic abuse, or
- the child has been a victim of trafficking.
Following a tour of immigrant detention centers for minors, Sens. Cornyn and Cruz will hold a roundtable at the Weslaco Border Patrol Station with representatives from federal agencies involved in the process of receiving, detaining, and adjudicating immigrant families, as well as non-profits and local elected officials. The roundtable will be open to media. Sens. Cornyn and Cruz will then hold a press conference.
**Credentialed media wishing to attend should RSVP to Libby_Hambleton@cornyn.senate.gov by 9amCT on Friday.
WHO: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Ryan Patrick, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
Manuel Padilla, Chief, U.S. Border Patrol – RGV Sector
David Higgerson, Director, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Henry Lucero, Office Field Director, ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations (ERO)
Jose Gonzales, Field Supervisor, HHS – Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
Mayor Jim Darling, McAllen
Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, Pharr
Mayor Chris Boswell, Harlingen
Mayor Rick Morales, Donna
Mayor Rick Cavasos, Los Indios
Mayor Armando O’Cana, Mission
Judge Eloy Vera, Starr County
Judge Ramon Garcia, Hidalgo County
Judge Eddie Trevino, Cameron County
Daniel Garza, President, LIBRE
Edward Anaya, President, Valley Interfaith
Norma Pimentel, Sister, Catholic Charities
Daniel Flores, Bishop, Catholic Dioceses
WHEN: Friday, June 22, 2018
1:00pmCT – Roundtable begins
2:15pmCT – Press conference
WHERE: Weslaco Border Patrol Station
1501 E. Expressway 83
Weslaco, TX 78596
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