Conservatives call on Pelosi to cancel August recess

A group of House conservatives led by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to cancel August recess so that lawmakers can debate a bill to fund Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. 

In a letter — signed by 34 GOP members including Roy — sent to Pelosi on Thursday, the lawmakers argue the lower chamber should not break without addressing funding for the agency and the humanitarian crisis at the border.

“We are united in our belief that the House of Representatives should not adjourn for August recess before providing adequate funding to our men and women of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the frontlines dealing with the ongoing humanitarian crisis on our southern border,” they wrote. 

“Additionally, we must address the largest barriers to regaining operational control of the border,” the letter added, citing family detention, “the unintended consequences of the 2008 trafficking law that impedes our ability to expeditiously process unaccompanied children,” and “loopholes in our asylum laws” as some of the examples.

{mosads}The GOP members went on to blast Democrats for not moving the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill through regular order, arguing a debate on funding levels for ICE should have already taken place. 

“ICE is using all the tools and resources at their disposal to house, process, and care for the hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing our southern border each month. They are overwhelmed,” they argued in the letter.

“They’ve told Congress time after time they are overwhelmed, yet we have refused to supply them with the tools they need,” the letter also said. 

The group went on to argue that it would be irresponsible to return to their respective homes for recess without ensuring ICE has adequate resources. 

“Leaving town for a month to campaign and parade our accomplishments in Congress is an insult to our constituents, the American people, and the migrants suffering at the hands of dangerous cartels who are abusing our immigration laws for profit,” they concluded.  

Besides Roy, the letter was signed by 33 other GOP lawmakers, mainly consisting of Freedom Caucus members and representatives from Texas, including Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio), Mark Meadows (N.C.), Dan Crenshaw (Texas), Bill Flores (Texas) and Jodey Arrington (Texas).