DeLauro Slams Trump’s Demoralizing Anti-Immigrant Policies

WASHINGTON, DC (January 25, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement condemning President Trump's recently announced immigration policies, which would strip federal funding from sanctuary cities such as New Haven, break-up immigrant families, build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and suspend the U.S. refugee program.

"The Administration's new immigration policies are not only anti-immigrant, they are anti-American. Since its founding, the U.S. has been made richer by immigrants, welcoming men, women, and children to our shores with the spirit that they could build a better life and contribute to our nation. Today's announcement goes against everything we stand for, and only threatens to further divide us.

"President Trump's decision to turn away immigrants, including children fleeing violence in Central America and the Middle East, speaks volumes about his character. When images of children drowning in the Mediterranean Sea or covered in debris in bombed out Aleppo flash on our screens, does President Trump not feel their pain? We cannot give into fear and divisive policies when the world needs us to act.

"Closing us off from the rest of the world will not solve our problems. Breaking up families, building a wall, suspending our refugee program, and stripping funding from cities and states that are bringing immigrants into the fabric of our community will only further our problems. President Trump must immediately reverse course on his immigration policies.

"Republicans in Congress should join Democrats in enacting comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to legal citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Together, we can send a bipartisan bill to the President that respects human dignity and considers the struggles that many immigrants face. We can no longer pull families apart and leave them in the shadows of a broken immigration system."