Wasserman Schultz to Visit Border, Investigate Impacts of Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy

Washington, January 16, 2020 This delegation trip marks approximately one year since the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy was implemented on January 25, 2019. Under the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, thousands of families are being forced to wait in dangerous border towns and makeshift refugee camps in Mexico as they go through the asylum process, which can take months

WASHINGTON D.C. — On Friday, January 17, 2020, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) will join a Congressional delegation led by Congressman Filemon Vela (TX-34) to Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Mexico, to investigate the impacts of the Trump Administration’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy and the use of tent court facilities to adjudicate ‘Remain in Mexico’ asylum cases.

This delegation trip marks approximately one year since the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy was implemented on January 25, 2019. Under the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, thousands of families are being forced to wait in dangerous border towns and makeshift refugee camps in Mexico as they go through the asylum process, which can take months. According to media reports, advocates, and immigration attorneys, tens of thousands of individuals have been turned away, often as a result of pressure by CBP, lack of understanding of our immigration laws, or lack of legal representation.

“This Administration has carried out truly cruel, inhumane immigration policies, and I need to see up close how these vulnerable asylum-seeking families are being treated in the name of American taxpayers,” Wasserman Schultz said. “We are not living up to our obligations to properly consider asylum claims. Our nation can and must do better.”

Advocates report cases where asylum-seeking families are separated under the policy, including the removal of children from their parents. Some of these children have allegedly been sent to detention facilities in Florida. 

Members will cross the border to visit asylum-seekers in Matamoros, which has the largest tent camp of its kind on the US-Mexico border. Afterwards, the delegation will tour the tent court facilities in Brownsville, Texas. The tent court facilities have been shrouded in secrecy and there have been multiple reports of due process violations.  Press and legal court observers are often prohibited from entering, and there have been reports of attorneys being prohibited from participating in certain proceedings with their clients.Following the tour of the tent court, the members will brief the press on their impressions from their visit to the tent court and discussions with families being impacted by the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy. The press conference will be livestreamed on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Facebook page at approximately 11:45 AM Central Time on Friday.