Garbarino Introduces Bill To Bring Transparency and Oversight to Federal Relocation of Undocumented Migrants
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Recently, Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) introduced H.R.5693, The Migrant Relocation Transparency Act which would institute reporting requirements around the federal resettlement, transportation, or relocation of undocumented migrants. Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-NY-01) joined him as an original co-sponsor of the bill.
"There has been a complete lack of transparency from this Administration regarding the relocation of migrants to communities across the country and it has understandably caused concern among impacted Americans like those in my District," said Rep. Garbarino. "My constituents have a right to know who is coming into their community. The Administration’s cloak and dagger tactics employed in the recent transfer of undocumented children to New York in the middle of the night raises serious questions about the handling of these resettlements and points to a need for oversight. This bill would require the Administration to consult with and report to Congress and local officials about all migrant relocations, including the types of vetting methods used to ensure migrants are not affiliated with MS-13 or have any other criminal history, the COVID testing procedures performed, and the local and federal resources provided to migrants, such as educational resources."
Specifically, this bill would require the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security to consult with governors and mayors of affected jurisdictions before any federally directed, administered or funded resettlement, transportation, or relocation of migrants, as well as submit to Congress and governors and make publicly available a monthly, state-specific report regarding resettlement, transportation, or relocation of illegal aliens that is federally directed, administered, or funded or that involves aliens subject to federal supervision pending immigration proceedings.
The text of the bill can be found here.
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