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  • Washington Highlights

    Administration Reverses Border Detention Policies; Immigration Legislation Stalls

    Matthew Shick, Sr. Director, Gov't Relations & Regulatory Affairs

    President Trump June 20 signed an executive order titled, “Affording Congress an Opportunity to Address Family Separation,” which would end the policy of separating migrant children from their parents who were detained at the U.S.-Mexico border.

    AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, MD, released a June 20 statement calling for the end of family separation at the border and “for immigration policy that creates certainty for physicians and researchers, attracts the best and the brightest from around the world, and promotes a culturally competent, diverse, and prepared health and biomedical workforce that leads to improved care and health equity.”

    Meanwhile, the House of Representatives June 21 voted down (193-231) immigration reform sponsored by House Judiciary Chair Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.). The Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 (H.R. 4760) was the more conservative of two bills the House was slated to vote on the week of June 18 [see Washington Highlights, June 15]. Shortly after, House leadership also delayed votes for a week on the more moderate Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018 (H.R.6136).

    President Trump June 22 suggested on Twitter that Republican lawmakers should postpone immigration legislation until after the midterm elections.