Rep. Clarke’s legislation for this Commission passes Homeland Security Committee

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) introduced legislation to create a 9/11-style Commission to investigate the treatment of migrant families and children. The “National Commission to Investigate the Treatment of Migrant Families and Children Act” would create an independent body to investigate the treatment of migrant families by the Trump Administration and passed the Homeland Security Committee yesterday, as part of an amendment to Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s (TX-16)  Homeland Security Improvement Act.

Clarke said: “As a country founded on checks and balances, we must provide a check on what is happening at our border. The Commission in my legislation will investigate the conditions wherever migrants are being held in this country because no child or person should be subjected to live in inhumane conditions, let alone die from where the American government has caged them.” 

The National Commission will:

• establish an independent body to investigate the treatment of migrant families and children by the Trump administration
• function similarly to the 9/11 Commission, having full subpoena authority and the ability to pull records from relevant federal agencies
• have those who sit on it be appointed by Congress
• be unlike inspector general investigations because the White House cannot block nor interfere in the investigation
• have funding and full-time staff dedicated exclusively to uncover the truth and pursue accountability

Clarke continued: “The abuse migrant children and families are subjected to at the behest of a xenophobic president, who clearly doesn’t value the lives of those who are seeking asylum or refugee in the United States of America, is unacceptable. We must stand on the right side of history–which is why I have taken action to help these immigrant children and families by introducing The National Commission to Investigate the Treatment of Migrant Families and Children Act.” 

The bill was introduced on Tuesday and went through markup on Wednesday.

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