U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer is among the lawmakers co-sponsoring legislation that would direct federal agencies to plan for surges in migrants attempting to enter the United States.
Meijer, R-Grand Rapids, was among the 16 lawmakers introducing the Irregular Migration Surge Border Response Resilience Act in the House Thursday.
The bill would direct the Department of Homeland Security to establish a comprehensive plan to respond to irregular migration surges, with the goal of allowing DHS to manage a border surge.
The bill would also create a funding pool specifically allocated for dealing with increases in migrants attempting to enter the U.S. Lawmakers say this would cut out time waiting for Congress to allocate the funds.
Currently, authorities at the U.S. southern border with Mexico are facing an influx of migrants traveling to enter the country.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, called the situation a “humanitarian crisis," a label the Biden administration has avoided. Republicans on Capitol Hill label the surge of migrant children as “Biden’s border crisis.”
The funding provision included in the bill would have to set aside funds for DHS to expand capacity at detention centers holding migrants.
“I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to swiftly address the crisis at our southern border and prevent similar crises from developing in the future,” Meijer said in a statement.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is encountering more than 3,500 migrants on average per day – rapidly approaching the highest level we’ve experienced in 20 years. We cannot allow these types of crises to continue administration after administration.
"It is time for Congress to take charge and provide clear directives and adequate resources for planning and surge response. This will reduce the risk of future emergency humanitarian situations like the one we are seeing today.”
Reps. John Katko, R-New York, and Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, are the chief co-sponsors of the bill.
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