Liberty and Justice for All

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, the Trump administration has been terrorizing our communities with ICE for nearly 2 years, and people are dying because of it.

We all watched in horror when two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis were shot and killed in the street in broad daylight, then more shootings happened in Maine and Texas. People were shot and killed who weren't even the target of the enforcement action. Everyone who claims to support civil liberties should be alarmed by these shootings.

These deaths are only part of this administration's cruelty. Since Trump took office, more than 50 people have died while in DHS custody, and that number is probably even higher. That rate is double the rate of previous years. The death toll keeps rising because this administration refuses to recognize the humanity of those in its custody.

I have traveled to the Adelanto ICE facility in California, which has been linked to at least two of those deaths. Detained immigrants there lacked basic necessities, like clean drinking water and medical care. It was so bad that a Federal judge had to order the Department of Homeland Security to provide the basic human necessities. That is how depraved this has become. This is what happens when an administration demonizes immigrants and treats them as though they are less than human.

Congress must say enough is enough, stop the mass deportation, and stop the mass detention. Everyone deserves dignity, and everyone, regardless of their immigration status, deserves basic care and the due process that is required by our Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, we must all raise our voices to tell this administration enough is enough.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source