Senator John Cornyn after touring a shelter for unaccompanied child migrans run by Catholic Charities. (Photo via Sen. John Cornyn Twitter)
By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Daniel Gonzalez | Arizona Republic
Two border state senators from opposing parties, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas, introduced legislation on Tuesday to address ongoing waves of asylum seekers arriving at the southern border, which have strained the Border Patrol and local communities.
The legislation would open regional centers to more efficiently screen and process asylum seekers apprehended by the Border Patrol in hopes of easing the chaos currently taking place when larger numbers of asylum seekers are released in border communities with limited resources.
The bill comes as the Biden administration is grappling with the situation — one that Arizona leaders from both parties have said is overwhelming the Border Patrol and border communities, as well as the nation’s immigration system.
“It is encouraging to see a bipartisan attempt to address the surge of asylum seekers at our southern borders, and inspires hope that there is more will among Congress to reach across the aisle and pass a broader immigration reform bill that not only focuses on border security and addressing the flaws in our asylum laws, but creates a pathway to citizenship for our Nations Dreamers and undocumented residents as well.”
Darius Amiri, Rose Law Group Immigration Law Dept. Chair
