Homeland Security & Immigration
In a troubled world, Americans must work together to keep our country safe while upholding the values that truly make America great. We must stay vigilant about preventing terrorism and preparing for emergencies. At the same time, our broken immigration system is crying out for reform.
In Congress, I advocate for comprehensive reform that overhauls our immigration system, secures our borders, and establishes a process for qualifying immigrants to earn legal status. I support the admission of fully vetted refugees and strongly oppose divisive efforts to demonize immigrants and turn our backs on vulnerable refugees. In addition, I strongly support federal investments that help our first responders do their jobs and keep our communities safe.
More on Homeland Security & Immigration
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) and colleagues have introduced the Hmong and Lao Refugee Deportation Prohibition Act of 2020 to stop the Trump administration from deporting individuals to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (P.D.R.) for 72 months while individuals with Final Orders for Removal have their immigration cases reassessed. The Trump administration is currently negotiating with the Lao P.D.R. on a repatriation agreement that would deport at least 4,700 individuals to Laos.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after receiving an official response to her Feb. 3 letter outlining concerns about any proposal that would deport to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic more than 4,700 members of the Hmong and Lao community with orders of removal:
If you are arrested:
- You have the right to remain silent – ICE can use anything you say against you in your immigration case
- You have the right to speak with a lawyer
- You have the right to call the consulate of your birth country – the consulate may assist you in finding a lawyer
If you are mistreated:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today following reports of poor conditions at border patrol facilities along the U.S.-Mexico border:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) today joined House Appropriations Democrats in voting to approve the FY 2020 Homeland Security funding bill, which provides $63.8 billion in smart, targeted investments in border security, ensuring state and local governments have resources to prepare for and respond to manmade and natural disasters, securing our physical infrastructure and cybersecurity systems, and protecting our federal elections, while rejecting the Trump administration’s harmful anti-immigrant agenda.
President Trump’s shutdown of the federal government has harmed federal employees, our economy, and our national security. I have voted and will continue to vote to end his shutdown and reopen the government. President Trump’s demands for over $5 billion for a wall along our southern border will do nothing to make America safer or fix our broken immigration system. President Trump has systematically misled the American people by claiming there is a crisis of undocumented immigrants crossing the border.
This is categorically false.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-MN) issued the following statement in response to the recent attempted terror attacks against Democratic leaders and the press:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-MN) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court decision to uphold the Trump travel ban:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor opposing the Trump Administration's harmful policy of separating families at the U.S.-Mexico border:
I oppose President Trump’s outrageous policy of separating families on our southern border.Tearing children from the arms of their parents, confining them in cages with children caring for one another should never happen anywhere in the world. And it should never happen in America.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-MN) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s outrageous policy of separating families at the U.S. border with Mexico: