Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. joined a bi-partisan delegation of leaders and mayors from the U.S. Conference of Mayors in El Paso to urge the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to take immediate action and reverse forced separation of families. The mayors will visit the tent city migrant shelter in Tornillo, Texas.
 
Following strong, bi-partisan pressure, President Trump signed an executive order which ended the practice of separating families at the border. The order, does not address the plight of the nearly 2500 children who have been separated from their families.  
 
The USCM has called on federal leaders to pass immigration reform for decades. This delegation visit with leading mayors from across the country continues the ongoing work of the Conference to lead and to drive policy change to remedy the failures in immigration policy that are challenging American cities.
 
Davis released the following statement regarding the delegation visit to Texas:
 
“People look for local leaders to engage and bring resources that address problems and build our communities.  Mayors act and get things done. The problems at our borders and the treatment of immigrants affects us all. As mayors, we commit to stand and work together to get answers and real solutions to repair our failed immigration system.
 
It is in this spirit, that I am proud to join a bi-partisan delegation of the nation’s leading mayors to advocate for immigration reform to make our cities stronger.  As a USCM advisory board member, I look forward to being actively engaged in problem solving and advocacy to address the day to day concerns in our cities such as housing access, crime, gun violence, education and infrastructure.”