Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $30 million to compensate border communities that provided assistance to migrant families that were being dumped without any guidance or help:

            “I’m pleased the Appropriations Committee today voted to advance $30 million to help compensate local governments, nonprofit organizations and churches that have provided so much assistance to families seeking asylum in this country. Immigration is a federal responsibility and we shouldn’t be shifting that burden onto local communities.

            “After ICE ended its ‘Safe Release’ policy last year – designed to help make sure asylum-seeking families had a way to connect with relatives once they were released – local communities and service groups had to step in to fill that vacuum. Otherwise migrant families were being dropped off without any guidance or assistance at all.

            “The border supplemental appropriations bill that we voted on today is the proper vehicle to provide assistance to communities and groups that stepped up to help these families that were being released into border communities by ICE and CBP.”