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The Forces Pulling At Both Sides As Democrats Debate How To Address Worsening Conditions For Migrant Children Held At Southern Border
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Jun 25, 2019
Listen 15:12
The Forces Pulling At Both Sides As Democrats Debate How To Address Worsening Conditions For Migrant Children Held At Southern Border
With a vote planned for today on a funding bill that would send $4.5 billion in humanitarian aid to the southwestern U.S. border with Mexico, and some within their ranks dissenting over how the funding might be used
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 25: Protestors hold a demonstration against U.S. Customs and Border Patrol funding during a rally inside the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda on June 25, 2019 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. House Democrats say they want to provide aid for the care of illegal immigrant children and other services for detained immigrants, but exclude additional money for border enforcement and for additional beds in detention centers, according to published reports.  (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images)
Protestors Rally Against Customs And Border Patrol Funding In U.S. Senate
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Tom Brenner/Getty Images
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With a vote planned for today on a funding bill that would send $4.5 billion in humanitarian aid to the southwestern U.S. border with Mexico, and some within their ranks dissenting over how the funding might be used

With a vote planned for today on a funding bill that would send $4.5 billion in humanitarian aid to the southwestern U.S. border with Mexico, and some within their ranks dissenting over how the funding might be used if the package were to be approved, some House Democrats find themselves at odds with one another over whether the funding package is the best way to solve the problem.

Members of both the Congressional Progressive and Hispanic Caucuses met with Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) yesterday to share their concerns that the administration might use the funds to detain more children. New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, along with three other progressive Democrats, released a statement over the weekend saying they would not support the legislation. Assuming the entire 435 member House shows up for the vote, the Washington Post reports 235 House Democrats will only be able to afford 17 people breaking rank in order to get the bill passed. Republicans, meanwhile, have said they won’t support the House bill but could get behind a bipartisan bill that came out of a Senate committee last week.

The disagreement has gained even more attention following hundreds of migrant children being transferred out of a Border Patrol station in Clint, Texas where it was reported that the kids were living in squalid conditions without soap, clean clothes, or toothbrushes.

With guest host Libby Denkmann

Guests:

Cristina Marcos, congressional reporter for The Hill; she tweets

Erik Wasson, congressional reporter at Bloomberg News; he tweets

Credits
Host, AirTalk
Host, All Things Considered, AirTalk Friday
Senior Producer, AirTalk & FilmWeek
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Associate Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Apprentice News Clerk, AirTalk
Apprentice News Clerk, FilmWeek