(The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel was the lone North Carolinian among 26 members in the House of Representatives on Tuesday announcing formation of Democrats for Border Security Task Force.
The group is led by U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y.
In his remarks at the Capitol Hill announcement, Nickel said, “A divided government requires bipartisan solutions, and we have to work together to address the crisis at the southern border. It’s time for House Republicans to get serious and come to the table so that we can make sure that the American people are safe, our borders are secure, and immigrants are processed with dignity.”
Nickel, not seeking to keep his seat this November, represents constituents in Wake, Wayne, Johnston and Harnett counties. From his place on the Committee on Financial Services, he’s also on the Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions.
Cuellar is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. In a release, he criticized the lack of debate for a Senate bill, said the immigration system isn’t working, and said “sensible solutions” will respect “the rights of migrants to claim asylum.” Suozzi, winner of the Feb. 13 special election for the seat vacated by disgraced former Rep. George Santos, said immigration reform is overdue and accused others in Congress of trying to “weaponize the border crisis.”
In addition to Nickel and the two co-chairmen, the group also includes Reps. Ruben Gallego of Arizona; Lizzie Fletcher, Colin Allred and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas; Susie Lee and Steven Horsford of Nevada; Mike Thompson, Mike Levin and Lou Correa of California; Chrissy Houlahan, Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania; Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico; Nikki Budzinski and Eric Sorensen of Illinois; Marcy Kaptur and Emilia Sykes of Ohio; Angie Craig of Minnesota; Chris Pappas of New Hampshire; Pat Ryan of New York; Jared Golden of Maine; Jared Moskowitz of Florida; and Mary Peltola of Alaska.
