Boston, MA – Following Congressional approval of $4 billion dollars targeted to improving conditions at the Mexican border, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Chairman of the National Security Subcommittee, will participate in an on-site review of humanitarian conditions and detention policies at the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.  The Congressional delegation, one of the largest to visit the border, will investigate the impact of the Trump administration’s immigrations policies and tour a port of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facilities, a border patrol station and a detention center, allowing them to effectively evaluate the manner in which detainees are being treated. 

“This is the first week that Congress has not been in formal session, so I know that many of us are eager to see the conditions first-hand,” said Lynch.  “I have personally visited about a dozen refugee and border processing facilities all around the globe, such as Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey Gaza, Lebanon, Darfur and many others,” added Lynch.  “However, I have never seen a situation where children or families were separated.  That particular practice has been unnecessary elsewhere and should be completely unacceptable here as well.”

In addition to the inspection of the facilities, Lynch and his colleagues will meet with immigration advocates and receive briefings on border security and immigration.  Rep. Lynch will be joined by 24 other members of Congress who bring various perspectives on the issue.  The entire list of attendees is below:

Congressman Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Chairman of National Security Subcommittee

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Chairman of the Democratic Caucus

Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-03), Chairman of the House Budget Committee

Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12)

Congressman Ami Bera (CA-07)

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26)

Congressman Gil Cisneros (CA-39)

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-05)

Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11)

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05)

Congressman Dennis "Denny" Heck (WA-10)

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18)

Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17)

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08)

Congressman Tom Malinowski (NJ-07)

Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25)

Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02)

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07)

Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08)

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)

Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10)

Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)