In the eyes of one congressman, the situation in Syria isn't all that different from home.
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) blasted Congress and the Obama administration Thursday for its handling of the immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Pascrell's remarks came as part of a House Budget Committee hearing focusing on President Barack Obama's $58.6 billion request for Overseas Contingency Operations.
Part of that request includes funding for the Syria issue, led by $1.5 billion to advance interests with its neighboring countries. That's where Pascrell's argument emerged, as he said the Syrian refugee problem "brings to mind" what is going on in the U.S.
"We have four borders, and this is not a Latino problem, our immigration problem," Pascrell said. "The administration has unfortunately made it that, and so has the Congress."
Pascrell, who has served in Congress since 1997, has lineage that includes Italian-immigrant grandparents. He credits those grandparents in his congressional bio as the people who instilled in him the drive to be a “bridge builder."
"This is not a question of helter-skelter," Pascrell said. "This is a question of bringing people here who have family here and have no place to go."
"This isn't a question of money," Pascrell added. "It's a question of policy."
Watch the clip above.
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