Southeast Georgia Today: Barrow Sides with Obama on Immigration Legislation

Press Release

12th District Republican Congressional Candidate Rick Allen criticized Democrat Congressman John Barrow for his vote Friday in the U.S. House regarding the influx of thousands of children across the U.S. border with Mexico.

Allen released a statement which said, "Congressman John Barrow tonight bowed once again to President Obama and congressional liberals and sided against Georgians on immigration reform.

"John Barrow had a choice to make tonight -- to join Georgians in supporting serious
immigration policies that humanely enforce our border security or to turn his vote and voice over to Obama and Congressional liberals who want to open our borders and put it on the taxpayers tab.

"He caved to his Washington friends and left us with an exploding immigration mess on our hands."

Barrow voted against H.R. 5230 which passed the House Friday evening:
H.R.5230 provides for:

* $405 million for the Department of Homeland Security to boost border security
and law enforcement activities.

* $22 million to accelerate judicial proceedings for immigrants.

* $70 million for National Guard border efforts: $35 million for the federal
deployment of the Guard and $35 million for reimbursing states for their use of
the Guard on the Southern Border.

* $197 million for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide
temporary housing and humanitarian assistance to unaccompanied minors.

* $40 million in repatriation assistance to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
This funding is redirected from within existing foreign aid for Central American
countries so that these repatriation activities are immediately prioritized.

* Amending the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 so all
unaccompanied alien children (UACs) are treated the same as Mexicans for the
purpose of removals. UACs who have a credible fear of persecution or who have
been trafficked must appear before an immigration judge within 14 days of their
initial screening and shall be detained until their appearance.

* Including a "last-in, first-out" policy that priorities the removal of minors that
most recently arrived.

* Authorizing additional temporary judges to help address the increase in traffic on
the southern border.

* Changing the Immigration and Nationality Act to strengthen the law prohibiting
criminals with serious drug related convictions from applying for asylum.

Source