House progressive form caucus to reframe immigration debate

A group of House progressives is forming a caucus that aims to reframe the country’s immigration debate.

The group consists of Reps. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) and will be named the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration, NBC News first reported.

The caucus is hoping to shift the conversation from the nation’s southern border and more toward fixing the causes of migration to the U.S.

“Irregular and forced migration have reached unprecedented levels around the world. Generalized violence, civil wars, human rights violations, democratic backsliding, economic exclusion, and climate instability are just some of the current crises driving families away from their homes in search of safety and stability,” the lawmakers said in a memo.

The group hopes to position Congress to have a better understanding of what’s been done to address the reasons why people are leaving their home countries and what more needs to be done.

In an interview with NBC News, Ramirez said Democrats have done a “terrible job” talking about immigration and responding to the root issues of migration.

“We’ve just been reactive and apologetic instead of actually moving in the direction that positions Congress to be an effective ally to global efforts that creates a safer, more equitable world where people don’t have to come to the U.S.,” she said.

Casar told the outlet that so much of the immigration conversation on Capitol Hill talks about the border “as if immigration starts at the border, and it doesn’t.”

There are 14 House founding members of the new caucus.

Its creation comes just before the first presidential debate, where immigration is likely going to be a focus, as one of former President Trump’s largest talking points. It also follows President Biden’s executive action limiting asylum seeking at the border.