Migrant Relocation Transparency Act sponsored by Garbarino

U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) recently led a contingent of fellow Republicans in introducing legislation that would institute reporting requirements for the federal resettlement, transportation, or relocation of undocumented migrants in the United States. 

“This bill would require transparency and accountability for the federal relocation of migrants, improve public safety, and prevent the administration from continuing to hide their role in these relocations behind cloak and dagger tactics,” the congressman said.

Rep. Garbarino sponsored the Migrant Relocation Transparency Act, H.R. 3693, to require advance consultation with state and local officials and monthly reports to Congress regarding the resettlement, transportation, and relocation of aliens in America, according to the text of the bill.

“Tens of thousands of migrants have poured into New York as a direct result of the border crisis,” said Rep. Garbarino. “Migrants have been dropped off at New York airports in the dead of night and bused up to New York City creating a tremendous strain on local resources, all without warning.”

To this day, he added, the federal government has provided little to no information about the migrants they have relocated here or how they have been vetted. 

If enacted, H.R. 3693 would require the secretaries of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security to consult with governors and mayors of affected jurisdictions before any federally directed, administered or funded resettlement, transportation, or relocation of migrants, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Garbarino’s staff.

Additionally, the secretaries would be required to submit to Congress and governors and make publicly available a monthly, state-specific report regarding resettlement, transportation, or relocation of illegal aliens that is federally directed, administered, or funded or that involves aliens subject to federal supervision pending immigration proceedings, the summary says.

Specifically, such reports would be required to include information such as the number of aliens resettled, transported, or relocated, disaggregated by the number of single adults, members of family units, and minors, age, sex, and country of origin, and whether they are being resettled, transported, or relocated on a temporary or permanent basis; the methods used to determine the age and familial status of such aliens; the types of settings where such aliens are being resettled, transported, or relocated; and the amount of federal resources being spent on resettlement, transportation, or relocation, among other items.

H.R. 3693 has been referred to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee for consideration.

“My constituents have a right to know who is coming into their community and local municipalities have a right to be given fair warning about the number, vetting status, and resources being allocated to any migrants being relocated to their jurisdiction,” Rep. Garbarino said.