Omaha, Neb. - Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) has long advocated for Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, while also pushing for immigration reform.

One of seven Republicans to vote in favor of H.R. 6, theAmerican Dream and Promise Act, Rep. Bacon issued a statement following the vote in June of 2019:

“While this bill has bad flaws, I voted for it because we cannot continue to leave our DACA youth, as well as TPS and DED recipients in ‘no man’s land.’ For too many years, DACA and TPS have been addressed through presidential action. Congress has to take responsibility to force the legislative process.

“I believe we can be compassionate to these individuals and responsible for the security of our borders at the same time. Congress needs to be able to compromise and improve our border security, find permanent pathway for DACA and TPS, and a revamped system to process asylum seekers in a more efficient manner and reform our immigration system. Since arriving in Congress, I have voted multiple times for acomprehensive approach to immigration reform, and a compassionate solution for DACA and TPS.”

In September 2019, Rep. Bacon touredtwo El Paso-area holding facilities with Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO). One was a Border Patrol facility where people usually are held for under 24 hours, and the other was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility where people spend months awaiting an asylum hearing.

Bacon saw first-hand the need for faster hearings, as well as the need for more Border Patrol agents and other items needed for security.

“We need to ensure the safety of those who are waiting to have their asylum hearing, while also speeding up the process,” said Rep. Bacon. “This includes adding more courts and personnel to handle the asylum cases. At the same time, we need to secure our border and solidify our immigration process so that our systems are not still overwhelmed in 20, 30 even 40 years.

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