Washington, D.C. –
Following release of the United States Senate’s bipartisan “Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024,” Kids in Need of Defense President Wendy Young issued the following statement:
“The Senate’s bill demonstrates that bipartisan progress on immigration reform is possible, though this bill drastically limits access to key protections for vulnerable populations, fails to protect Dreamers, and will most certainly exacerbate the conditions that often result in an increased number of unaccompanied children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. It is significant that both Senate Democrats and Republicans have demonstrated a clear recognition and agreement that unaccompanied children seeking safety deserve access to key protections, especially access to U.S. territory and legal counsel to help them navigate their immigration proceedings. We also are pleased to see the inclusion of protections and relief for the thousands of Afghans who the United States airlifted during the fall of Kabul. This is a significant step forward, marking a clear breakthrough after decades of gridlock on immigration reform. This legislation puts protection for unaccompanied children above politics, and that is a model legislators should use as broader immigration reforms are considered.”
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Media Contact: Megan McKenna, mmckenna@supportkind.org, 202-631-9990