The U.S. House of Representatives is just days away from voting on a bill that would restrict migrants seeking asylum and limit funding to organizations that help them.
The Secure The Border Act would cut funding to organizations that help aid migrants while also strengthening security at the nation’s border.
For asylum seekers like Erika Cuellar, who fled Colombia to come to the United States three months ago, organizations like Bridge Street Development may not have the funds necessary to help those like her out.
Cuellar has been going to workshops hosted by the nonprofit, helping her transition to life in the U.S. The nonprofit has been working to get government funding to help carry out migrant relief efforts – something that the Secure the Border Act would prevent.
“It is not a meaningful effort at immigration reform. It focuses once again on a border wall that is excessively expensive and ineffective, and it doesn’t do the things that would actually secure the border,” said Congressman Dan Goldman.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis is a co-sponsor of the bill, tweeting that House Republicans are taking action to fix the current border crisis.
[twitter]https://twitter.com/RepMalliotakis/status/1655541019121795073[/twitter] The bill comes as New York City has seen over 60,000 migrants arrive on buses since the spring of 2022, with 10,000 of them being aided by Bridge Street Development, and countless others receiving aid from other nonprofit organizations.
It will go for a vote in the House of Representatives this Thursday.