Heinrich Statement on National Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after text of the bipartisan National Security Supplemental was released:
“Our nation's immigration system is broken, leaving countless families and communities to pay the price for Congressional inaction. With this National Security Supplemental, we begin to change that.
“Let me be clear, the compromise this bill represents is not perfect. It does not deliver the comprehensive immigration reform we need. It does not ensure DREAMERS a swift path to full citizenship, expand fair pathways for documented immigrants, or invest in our border communities at the scale needed.
“But it does make our asylum process faster, delivering safety to those who legitimately need it. And it invests in smart border security that will help cut down on drug and firearm trafficking at our southern border and make our communities safer.
“Those wins are important. They are critical beginning steps that I am proud to support, even as we must continue the work to reform our immigration system to better reflect our history and values as a country.
“Beyond our borders, this bipartisan legislation will also further strengthen our national security by providing support to our allies in Ukraine, helping to ensure Ukraine wins the war against Putin. And it will deliver support to Israel and innocent civilians in Gaza. While I will continue to push for guardrails on this aid, I will not turn my back on our Democratic allies.
“While no compromise is ever perfect, I will vote in favor of this bill to improve border security and provide much-needed aid abroad. If House Republican are serious about prioritizing people over politics, they’ll join the Senate in taking up this bipartisan agreement."
