GOP bill linking aid to immigration blasted by liberal groups
Source: The Hill
Nearly 60 groups are calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to exclude proposed language in a spending bill that would suspend aid to Central American countries if they dont meet certain commitments.
House Republicans have included a clause in their fiscal 2016 bill funding the State Department and foreign operations that would require the suspension of aid if Central American governments fail to address the crisis of unaccompanied children migrating to the U.S.
These conditions would encourage the implementation of policies that violate the right of people to emigrate, a right enjoyed by all people, and would dangerously undermine the right of persecuted people to seek territorial access to a country of asylum, the groups wrote in a letter Monday to the Senate panel.
The House bill would direct the secretary of State to suspend assistance to Central American countries if their governments dont take steps to improve border security, enforce laws to reduce the flow of illegal migrants to the U.S., conduct public outreach campaigns about the journeys dangers, and cooperate with U.S. federal agencies to facilitate and expedite the return of migrants to their native countries.
Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/finance/247050-groups-blast-gop-bill-that-imposes-conditions-on-central-america-aid