U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) today supported a bill to address the crisis at our border.

“We are a nation in crisis and I believe this legislation addresses the need to secure our border and helps to deter the unprecedented influx of illegal immigrants into our country. It also provides humanitarian aid to help the thousands of people, including young children, return safely home to be reunited with their families. We are a nation of laws and this bill in no way grants amnesty for those willing to violate our laws,” Luetkemeyer said. “This was a preventable tragedy created by an Administration focused more on immigration politics than the immigration problem. The time is now to put politics aside and do what is right for the safety of the American people and the well-being of the unfortunate souls lured here. It is my hope the Senate and the president will do the right thing by accepting this bill and put aside attempts to shirk their responsibility to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution.”  

The $694 million bill passed by the House provides funding through Sept. 30, 2014. The House bill is significantly less than the $3.7 billion sought by the president and $2.7 billion sought by the Senate. The funds are fully offset by cuts to existing funds and will result in no new or additional spending.

Luetkemeyer also plans to support later today H.R. 5272, legislation that would freeze expansion of the president’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that would grant deportation relief and work permits to children brought in to the United States illegally by their parents that has contributed to the influx of unaccompanied children seeking to enter the country.