‘Legislation Is Necessary’ To Address How Detained Immigrants Are Being Detained At Border, Pelosi Says
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is unlikely to get the more liberal provisions that were dropped from a border aid package earlier this month past the Senate, but the announcement allows the speaker to acknowledge concerns of progressive members of the party who are upset that more has not been done for detainees.
The House will consider new legislation to address the treatment of migrants at the southern border, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday 鈥 less than two weeks after passage of a $4.6聽billion emergency spending package left聽scores of Democrats angered about a lack of accountability for the Trump administration. 鈥淟egislation is necessary,鈥 Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a letter to Democrats, pointing to House provisions that were left out of the Senate-negotiated spending bill that ultimately passed last month 鈥 including medical care standards for migrants in U.S. custody, a 90-day limit on children鈥檚 stays in federal 鈥渋nflux shelters鈥 and guaranteed access to border facilities without notice for members of Congress. (DeBonis and Kim, 7/8)
Pelosi has urged President Trump to adopt the additional protections unilaterally. But her latest message suggests she's not holding her breath for the administration to act on its own to ensure that those placed in federal custody after arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border have ready access to medical treatment, hygiene products and other simple necessities. "Whether or not the President responds to our request to improve medical care standards for the health and safety of children, and while Senator McConnell still refuses to help the children suffering in these deplorable conditions, we must lead a Battle Cry across America to protect the children," Pelosi wrote in the "Dear Colleague" letter. 聽(Lillis, 7/8)
