RIGHT SPEAK: Sen. Cruz: It Is Imperative That We Enforce the Rule of Law in America, Not Mandate Catch and Release

Monday, August 6, 2018

Sen. Cruz: It Is Imperative That We Enforce the Rule of Law in America, Not Mandate Catch and Release

Today, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, participated in a hearing with government witnesses from the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security to receive updates on the administration’s immigration enforcement challenges and immigrant family reunification efforts at the southern border. There, he questioned federal officials on topics including the rise of reported illegal immigration in the U.S., the dangers and risks children face trying to cross the border illegally, and the consequences of catch and release practices that hamper enforcement.

“As you know there is widespread agreement in Congress on both sides of the political aisle that families should not be separated–that the best place for children is with their parents, with their moms and dads,” Sen. Cruz said. “At the same time, I believe it’s imperative that we also enforce the law. We should not be adopting policies that effectively mandate catch and release, because that only serves to attract more people here illegally and to ensure that even more children will be subject to the abuse, to the horrific treatment that human traffickers subject them to. I’ve introduced legislation that would mandate families stay together, and at the same time would enforce the law and prevent a return to the policies of catch and release, and we’re engaged in ongoing negotiations with Senate Democrats to see if there will be bipartisan agreement behind that legislative agreement. I’m hopeful and optimistic.”

In June, Sen. Cruz introduced the ‘Protect Kids and Parents Act’ to expedite the asylum process and keep immigrant families together. He also toured immigrant detention facilities in Weslaco, Texas and hosted roundtables with local officials to discuss the process of receiving, detaining, and adjudicating immigrant families. In a prior Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting, Sen. Cruz raised concerns regarding immigrant families separated at the southern border and urged his colleagues to take swift action to address the crisis in a bipartisan manner.