Senator Graham Passes Legislation to Solve the Border Crisis Before August Recess, Democrats Object

The Senate Judiciary Committee debated the Secure and Protect Act of 2019 on Thursday, a bil that was introduced earlier this summer by Chairman Lindsey Graham. The legislation aims to stop the current border security crisis and rampant asylum fraud. Republicans voted to get the bill out of Committee before the Senate adjourns for August recess later today.

Highlights of the legislation:

?? Asylum applications from residents of the Northern Triangle or countries that border it would be filed at refugee processing centers – not in the United States. These centers would be established in Central America and Mexico.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 1, 2019

?? Unaccompanied minors (UAC) from Central America would be treated the same as minors from Canada and Mexico. This would allow the United States to return all UAC to their country of origin after screening.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 1, 2019

Democrats objected to the move and argued the legislation should be held over for Committee consideration until September when lawmakers get back into town. In other words, they're happy to head home for a five week long vacation without solving the ongoing crisis at the border. Graham was having none of it. The final vote was 12-10.

Today, Chairman @LindseyGrahamSC’s legislation to fix asylum abuse, the Secure and Protect Act of 2019, was reported out of Committee by a vote of 12-10.

Read more: https://t.co/5xHlNEAzsN pic.twitter.com/MoS58QmGZR
— Senate Judiciary (@senjudiciary) August 1, 2019

“I will no longer allow our asylum laws to be exploited by human traffickers, smugglers and cartels,” Graham released in statement. “Cartels, smugglers and human traffickers are profiting off immigrants and helping them take advantage of our broken asylum laws. I will no longer allow the loopholes in our laws to be exploited. I will not aid and abet these horrific practices. My bill fixes these problems.”

“Someone has to lead on this issue to repair broken laws. This is a national security imperative and a humanitarian necessity. It’s just a matter of time until these loopholes are used by dangerous people to hurt us. I’m willing to do more to help Central America, but I’m not willing to walk away from changing our laws to stop the massive flow of immigrants coming from Central America and now, throughout the world. Our immigration officials have told me that this legislation, if enacted, would reduce approximately 80 percent of the flow overnight," he continued. “I have tried to work with my Democratic colleagues to find a win-win solution, but have failed thus far. My hope is to always achieve bipartisanship, but the current crisis at the border has become a disaster. To do nothing is to maintain the horrific situation we find ourselves in today. That’s unacceptable.”