"I have had numerous constituents reach out to my office who have been unable to locate family members or secure medical treatments for those held in detention, all while Members of Congress continue to receive inconsistent responses from this administration regarding the scope of their oversight authority and the role of the agency during a lapse in funding."
"Regardless of whether a federal agency or department is open, constituents have a fundamental right to information about loved ones in custody or detention. Members of Congress also have a constitutional obligation to conduct oversight."
"If [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] can continue its operations even during a shutdown then Congress must retain the ability to communicate with the agency and secure critical information for constituents about their family members."
Families face increased difficulties in contacting loved ones in immigration detention amid the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Texas Democrat Rep. Julie Johnson reported numerous constituents unable to find family members or secure medical care. The shutdown has led to complaints from lawmakers about oversight and agency operations. Johnson emphasized that regardless of funding status, constituents deserve information about detained individuals, and Congress must maintain oversight responsibilities. The political blame game between the White House and Republicans complicates the situation further.
Read at www.npr.org
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]