Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) issued the following statement after voting present on House Resolution 990, a politically-driven messaging opportunity regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“I do not support abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There are important reforms the Department should undertake, such as ending the policy of family separation and detention, but these changes must begin by addressing the broader concerns surrounding the administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

“Congress should be focused on opportunities like the Keep Families Together Act and comprehensive immigration reform, not politically-driven messaging opportunities with no real solutions to address family separation.

“The administration’s immigration policy of needless separation does not work, and is not reflective of the principles the U.S. should stand for. Congress must resist a zero tolerance policy, reunite families and remember what this country stands for.

“We need to replace deterrence with compassion. We need to replace callousness with humanity. We need to replace talk of a border wall with more talk of the Statue of Liberty and the freedom she represents to everybody around the world.

“The U.S. can better stand up for these words through immigration enforcement that prioritizes serious threats like violent criminals and threats to national security, not mothers and fathers bringing their children to the U.S. to escape violence and drug cartels.

“I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to address reforming ICE in a broader context of immigration reform.”

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