Shaheen Helps Advance Bipartisan Funding Measure to Address Humanitarian Crisis at the Southern Border

**Emergency measure provides funding to care for migrant children, improved detention conditions, refugee programs and immigration judges**

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after she voted to advance an emergency funding bill to address the humanitarian crisis at the Southern border:

“In addition to funding to care for migrant children and improved detention conditions, this bipartisan legislation provides needed funding for refugee programs in New Hampshire and across the country to continue, and for judges to help process the backlog of asylum claims. Today demonstrates that common ground can and must be found on how to address the current situation at the Southern border. It should also finally compel Congress to work together on bipartisan immigration reform. There is also much work we still need to do to secure our ports of entry and stem the flow of drugs coming into our country, which is fueling the opioid epidemic in New Hampshire. I am committed to working across the aisle to make sure Congress addresses this and many other issues that are contributing to the substance use disorder crisis.

“I remain disturbed by many of this administration’s immigration policies, and I am concerned about the continuing trauma that children and families are experiencing as a result of separating children from parents.”  

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 30-1 to approve the Southern Border Humanitarian Assistance Supplemental, legislation that provides $4.6 billion. Funding will go towards care for migrant children, improving detention conditions, expanding alternatives to detention, judges to address the immigration backlog, grants for nonprofits and local jurisdictions who provide support for migrant families, and legal assistance to educate migrants about the immigration court process.