Bipartisan legislation includes Sinema provisions to increase immigration judges at the border, boost funding for non-profits, and speed up asylum claim process
WASHINGTON – The bipartisan border bill approved today in the Senate includes key provisions secured by Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema to keep Arizona safe and help address the migrant crisis. Sinema worked across the aisle to get three critical priorities included in the bill, including increasing the number of immigration judges at the border, providing funding for nongovernmental organizations assisting migrants across Arizona, and creating a plan to process credible fear claims—critical to determining asylum—in 20 days or less.
“I am working across the aisle to stop the flow of migrants, ensure the fair and humane treatment of migrants currently here, and boost resources so migrants who do not qualify to stay in America quickly return home,” said Sinema.
As part of the bipartisan bill, Sinema worked across the aisle and successfully secured the following provisions:
$55 million to hire 30 additional Immigration Judge Teams and secure courtroom space and equipment to improve judicial adjudication at the border
$30 million for grants to nonprofits that provide critical food, shelter, social services, and other assistance to migrants who are released from CBP custody
A report from the Government Accountability Office on the number of asylum officers, immigration judges, and support staff needed to fairly and effectively make credible fear determinations with respect to family units and unaccompanied children within 20 days of apprehension, and to fairly and effectively review any appeals
