Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) has joined forces with other congressional Democrats to form the Democrats for Border Security Task Force.
This newly formed group, which is comprised of 26 House Democrats including Rep. Henry Cueller (D-Texas), aims to counter the surge of illicit narcotics that threaten communities nationwide while addressing the complex issues surrounding immigration and border security.
Co-Chaired by Suozzi and Cuellar, the task force seeks to advocate for commonsense, bipartisan compromise to achieve comprehensive immigration reform.
Suozzi made the border a cornerstone of his campaign in the special election to replace George Santos, criticizing Republicans for rejecting the bipartisan border bill and calling for an Ellis Island-type establishment at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“America’s southern border and immigration system aren’t working, and it is time to fix it,” Suozzi said. “Our approach to the immigration and border crisis is unequivocal; we will work with anybody from any wing of any party if they genuinely care about solving this problem.”
The task force recognizes the impact of the humanitarian crisis at the border on cities across the country, particularly those in border communities that have been grappling with the consequences for years. Representative Cuellar, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, stressed the urgency of finding solutions.
“This crisis is unsustainable, and Democrats need a forum to approach border security policy as the GOP continues to play partisan politics with the issue,” Cuellar said. “I’m proud to lead my fellow Democrats on this Task Force so we can find sensible solutions that will secure the border while respecting the rights of migrants to claim asylum.”
The Democrats for Border Security Task Force intends to provide a platform for House Democrats to engage in ongoing discussions about border security and collaborate with colleagues. The group plans to hold meetings with Administration officials, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local officials from border communities to better inform members about the realities of the border crisis.
The primary goal is to foster dialogue among House Democrats and contribute to the development of
border security measures.
