Should Congress prohibit the use of federal lands for migrant families?

Immigration
Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act (H.R. 5283)
This bill has Passed the House of Representatives
Bill Summary

This bill would prohibit using federal funds for housing illegal immigrants on federal land - either temporarily or permanently. The Agriculture and Natural Resource Committees share responsibility for regulating Federal Land use in the United States. Sponsor: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (Republican, New York, District 11)
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Opponents say

•      "Worse than just being an obnoxious decoy for their inability to govern, Republicans’ anti-immigrant rhetoric and antics are dangerous. Reducing families and children to a public lands problem is dehumanizing and out of line. We’ve seen how dehumanization and other extreme anti-immigrant language like this can lead to violence. I condemn this kind of rhetoric on the Committee and hope tomorrow’s hearing will not continue this disturbing pattern." Source: Rep. Raúl Grijalva (Democrat, Arizona, District 7), ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee


•      "The southern border region has always been a place of hope, welcoming and opportunity. Our communities should not be treated as war zones or mischaracterized as unsafe or unwelcoming. Families and children should not be locked in cages. Those seeking safety at our border should be treated with dignity. We urge Congress to reject this extreme bill and focus on creating just policies to help our communities thrive, uplift human rights, and create humane systems to manage migration and welcome vulnerable newcomers." Source: Southern Border Communities Coalition in a letter to Congress opposing a similar bill

Proponents say

•      "Turning our federal parks into encampments for unvetted migrants from all over the world is unfair to surrounding communities and the taxpayers being forced to foot the bill while having their public spaces taken away. I've joined local and federal colleagues to use every legal and legislative tool at our disposal, from lawsuits to this legislation, to stop the Biden, Hochul and Adams Administrations from taking more open space from our citizens. I appreciate the House Committee on Natural Resources coming to New York City to see the grave misuse of federal land firsthand and thank them for quickly taking up my legislation, putting us one step closer to ending this madness once and for all. It's my hope that this critically important legislation is brought to the floor as soon as possible." Source: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (Republican, New York, District 11)


•      "Biden’s border crisis continues to wreak havoc on America with no end in sight. Instead of working with Congress to secure the border, President Biden has instead chosen to target our national parks to make up for his failures," said Chairman Bruce Westerman. "H.R. 5283 is vital legislation to stop the absurd precedent of using federal land to house migrants. Representative Malliotakis has been a strong leader on this issue, and her very district is proof that every state is now a border state under President Biden. With New York City now facing the consequences of Biden’s failed policies, it’s time for Congress to step in and prevent the administration from turning America’s most iconic landscapes into ramshackle camps." Source: Rep. Bruce Westerman (Republican, Arkansas, District 4), House Natural Resources Committee Chair

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