MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation at the USA-Mexican border
16.7.2019 - (2019/2733(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure
Tineke Strik, Saskia Bricmont, Diana Riba i Giner, Gwendoline Delbos‑Corfield, Magid Magid, Damien Carême, Yannick Jadot, Rasmus Andresen, Margrete Auken, Monika Vana, Catherine Rowett, Petra De Sutter, Alexandra Geese, Alice Kuhnke, Hannah Neumann, Erik Marquardt, Katrin Langensiepen, Henrike Hahn, Molly Scott Cato, Anna Cavazzini, Alexandra Louise Rosenfield Phillips, Niklas Nienaß, Gina Dowding, Ernest Urtasun, Ellie Chowns, Grace O'Sullivan, Scott Ainslie, Salima Yenbou, Caroline Roose, Sarah Wiener, Reinhard Bütikofer, Pierrette Herzberger‑Fofana
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0014/2019
B9‑0014/2019
European Parliament resolution on the situation at the USA-Mexican border
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
- having regard to the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
- having regard to the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child,
- having regard to the United States-Mexico Declaration of Principles on Economic Development and Cooperation in Southern Mexico and Central America of 18 December 2018,
- having regard to the statement by the acting Secretary Kevin K. McAleenan of the Department of Homeland Security of 9 July 2019,
- having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure;
A. whereas the US administration has made curbing illegal immigration, securing its border with Mexico and fighting crime central themes of its policy;
B. whereas the number of enforcement actions along the southwest border of the United States (US) has fallen by 28 percent in June 2019, largely due to Mexico’s successful crackdown on Central American migration through the deployment of national guards and federal police at its northern and southern borders;
C. Whereas the reduction in apprehensions accounts for decreases across all demographics, including unaccompanied minors, family units and single adults, as well as decreases in immigrants from all Northern Triangle countries;
D. whereas reports have described humanitarian conditions at the US-Mexican border, including migrants deaths, poor detention conditions and neglected child detainees being held in reportedly less than optimal conditions; whereas a new detention center for teens was opened in Carrizo Springs, Texas, at the beginning of July 2019 and which has been described in media reports as “clean and bright”, providing the children with easy access to various services and hygiene products;
E. whereas the number of children in Customs and Border Protection has fallen from more than 2,500 in early June 2019 to fewer than 350 at the beginning of July 2019, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); whereas the separation of migrant families was officially halted in June 2018;
F. whereas the DHS has been taking a ‘whole government’ approach to confront the ongoing crisis and fulfill its humanitarian and security obligations, which include combating human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal goods and helping to limit ‘push’ factors that encourage dangerous irregular migration into the US;
G. whereas the US is working with the Government of Mexico to expand Migrant Protection Protocols to allow the US to more effectively assist legitimate asylum-seekers and individuals fleeing persecution and deter migrants with false or meritless claims from making the journey;
H. whereas the US is by far the largest donor to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and has committed itself to continuing discussions on global humanitarian needs and priorities with the UNHCR, International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other partners in order to assist vulnerable people;
I. whereas the US provides the UNHCR with additional funding to help meet the growing needs of an increasing number of asylum seekers, including supporting efforts to build the capacity of States to identify and process asylum seekers, facilitate voluntary repatriations, and ensure general protection for vulnerable populations, thereby allowing those seeking protection to find it as close to home as possible, rather than continuing dangerous journeys;
J. whereas the US continues to provide funding to the IOM to complement efforts of Central American governments to promote well-managed, legal forms of migration through numerous immigration capacity building programs, as well as support for the return of their citizens who no longer wish to remain in Mexico or other Northern Triangle countries they are transiting;
K. whereas the House of Representatives passed a $4.6 billion aid package to address the situation on the US-Mexico border on 27 June 2019;
L. whereas migration policies, the protection of borders and security are national sovereignty issues, which includes the sovereign right to decide who to allow entry and grant protection within their borders;
M. whereas the US has a vibrant political system, a strong rule-of-law tradition and a wide array of civil liberties;
N. whereas the EU-US partnership is based on strong political, cultural, economic and historic links, on shared values such as freedom, democracy, promoting peace and stability, human rights and the rule of law; whereas strong EU-US relations are crucial to building a more democratic, secure and prosperous world;
1. Welcomes the House of Representatives’ passage of the $4.6 billion bipartisan Humanitarian Aid Bill for the Southern Border to address the situation on the USA-Mexico border;
2. Commends the US administration for its commitment to the UNHCR and the IOM to promote well-managed, legal forms of migration, in cooperation with third countries; believes that policies to protect the welfare of minors are essential;
3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the US President, the US Senate and the House of Representatives.