Blumenthal Statement on the Trump Administration's Immigration Proposal

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement today in response to the Trump Administration’s immigration proposal, which was made available to the press last night, but which Congress will not receive a briefing on until Monday:

“This proposal is immigration hostage taking. Hundreds of thousands of young people are being held hostage in the name of the far right’s repulsive and repugnant anti-immigrant fantasy. The party of so-called family values has revealed itself to care more for its nativist political base than the actual families that would be cruelly ripped or kept apart under this proposal. One of its most heartless provisions would send refugee children back to the countries they have fled without even a fig leaf of due process – a proposal almost certain to send children to their deaths,” Blumenthal said.

“This is not a serious proposal and it was not offered in a serious way – it was leaked Thursday night after close of business while Congress was out of session. Instead of playing political games with the lives of children while hobnobbing with billionaires overseas, the Trump Administration must come to the table and engage in real negotiations with Congress.”