Press Releases

Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) today released the following statement on immigration into the United States.

“One of my priorities in Congress is to make sure we have an immigration system that promotes safety and fairness. We need to be encouraging productive members of society to come to our country, while making sure criminals and those who wish to do harm to others are not allowed to cross our border freely.”

“For years, South and Central American countries, as well as Mexico, have fallen short of basic human trafficking prevention standards. So, when an adult and child come into the U.S. illegally, it is our duty to make sure the child is not being harmed in any way. Separation happens if officials have reason to believe the adult is falsely claiming to be the child’s parent or they do not enter the United States at a port of entry.”

“When an adult illegally crosses into the U.S., that individual is, by law, detained and tried in court. At this point, the child is then placed into custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Typically, the adults are detained, tried and released in the same day, meaning that if they choose to return home, they will be reunited with their children in less than 24 hours.”

“When somebody who crossed the border illegally seeks asylum in the U.S., the process is extended. Children will be kept in HHS custody for 20 days before being paired with a responsible party in the U.S., ideally a relative.”

“If a family walks into a border station seeking asylum in the U.S., they are doing so legally and will be kept together throughout the process of entering our country. To any family seeking asylum here, I recommend this strategy.”

“These rules have been in place for many years and I believe it is the failure of previous administrations, both Republican and Democrat, for not addressing all of these issues. I think a good start would be to address the shortage of family spaces in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shelters along the border and make sure they are properly funded.”

“Tonight, I am meeting with President Trump, along with other members of Congress, to discuss solutions to these problems at our Southern border. With a new kind of leadership in the White House and a sense of urgency in Congress, I am confident that we will be able to work together to solve these problems.”

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U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his second term representing Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.