Dems offer no plan for caravan
Future of 7,000 Honduran asylum seekers uncertain
Most members of the Bay State congressional delegation — including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren — aren’t saying what should happen to the thousands of migrants headed toward the southern border.
The few who are speaking out, say the asylum seekers should have the right to apply for entry into the U.S.
“For the folks that are here that have a legitimate claim of asylum, they’re going to be processed and it’ll be adjudicated and we’ll deal with them, and for the folks that don’t, they’re going to be turned away,” U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III told the Herald yesterday.
Kennedy also criticized President Trump for focusing on the caravan, adding: “They’re trying to weaponize this as a political wedge during an election season, which is just astounding.”
Other members of the allDemocrat Massachusetts delegation — Warren and U.S. Reps. Katherine Clark, James McGovern, William Keating, Stephen Lynch, Michael Capuano and Richard Neal — did not respond to requests for comment about the fate of the 7,000migrant-strong caravan from Honduras.
The offices of U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton referred to tweets they’ve sent over the past few days criticizing Trump’s statements on the matter, but wouldn’t elaborate on what should happen when the migrants show up.
Retiring U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas said in a statement: “As a nation that respects the rule of law, the United States will not just allow for thousands of unvetted and undocumented immigrants to freely pass across our border. Our nation has long been a beacon of hope for immigrants around the world fleeing persecution, violence, and economic strife in search of a better life.”
Lori Trahan, the Democrat looking to replace Tsongas, said, “First, we don’t have open borders, and under no circumstances are 7,000 people going to flow into our country. We are a beacon of hope, but we are also a nation that respects the rule of law. There needs to be a process for evaluating claims for political asylum. If people meet the criteria, they should be considered, and if they do not, they will be turned away."
Ayanna Pressley, a presumptive incoming congresswoman, said, “Men, women and children fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries and seeking asylum in the United States are not a threat to our national security.”