NILC Statement on Budget Agreement to Keep Government from Shutting Down

WASHINGTON — Congress reached a budget agreement this weekend that will fund the government through September, avoiding a shut-down, but including $1.5 billion dollars for increased border security.

In response, Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement:

“While Democrats may have protected and defended certain fundamental programs for low-income and vulnerable Americans in this budget fight, $1.5 billion dollars dedicated to enhanced border security is an irrefutable loss.

“Republican leadership continues to turn its back on core American values that should transcend political party, doubling down on its commitment to implement Trump’s agenda by funding and enacting policies that divide, discriminate, and sow fear. Democrats must not waver in their resolve to defeat this agenda.

“We may have made certain inroads this go-round, but let’s be clear that they came at a cost and that the battle over next year’s budget continues. These border security funds will lay the groundwork for Trump’s promised deportation regime, which has already broken records for the number of families detained and deported in these first few months of his administration.

“On this May Day, we march for our families. We stand together and will continue to hold all our elected officials accountable for any and every threat to our democracy. This fight goes on and is far from over.”

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