WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema led the first hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management since becoming Chair of the panel. During her hearing, Sinema discussed the current crisis at the southwest border and her commitment to secure the border, support Arizona communities, keep Arizonans safe, and treat all migrants and unaccompanied children fairly and humanely. Sinema heard testimony from witnesses representing non-governmental organizations, including Beth Strano, the Asylum Seekers and Families Coordinator with the International Rescue Committee in Arizona.
“I grew up in southern Arizona, so like a lot of Arizonans, I’ve seen firsthand how Arizona, and specifically small communities along the border, pays the price for the federal government’s failure over decades to fix our broken immigration system. As Chair of this Subcommittee, I will work to ensure Congress and the administration take meaningful steps to secure the border, support our border communities and NGOs, prevent the spread of COVID-19, and treat all migrants and unaccompanied children fairly and humanely,” said Sinema.
At today’s hearing, Sinema highlighted her Bipartisan Border Solutions Act –legislation she recently introduced with Republican Senator John Cornyn (Texas) in response to the crisis at the southern border. The Senators’ legislation improves the federal government’s response to the border crisis, reduces the impact on local border communities, ensures migrants are treated fairly and humanely, and improves management and security along the border. Sinema also discussed her work to include $110 million in funding in the American Rescue Package that is now law for border communities and non-profits stepping up to help solve the migrant crisis. The resources will directly help border communities address the situation at the border, including to stop the spread of COVID-19, protect Arizonans, and ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely.
