By: Renee Nal | New Zeal

Via abc news

Ted Cruz came up with legislation that will expedite asylum decisions and keep families together “absent aggravated criminal conduct or threat of harm to the children.” The Democrats want to return to “catch and release,” but Ted Cruz has a better idea.

From a press release:

“The answer is not what congressional Democrats are proposing: simply releasing illegal aliens and returning to the failed policy of ‘catch and release.’ Rather, we should fix the backlog in immigration cases, remove the legal barriers to swift processing, and resolve asylum cases on an expedited basis.

“While these cases are pending, families should stay together. Children belong with their mothers and fathers. Once their cases have been adjudicated – under my legislation, in no longer than 14 days – those who meet the legal standard should be granted asylum and those who don’t should be immediately returned to their home country.

Summed up at the National Review, here are the key provisions:

  • Double the number of federal immigration judges, from roughly 375 to 750.
  • Authorize new temporary shelters, with accommodations to keep families together.
  • Mandate that illegal immigrant families must be kept together, absent aggravated criminal conduct or threat of harm to the children.
  • Provide for expedited processing and review of asylum cases, so that—within 14 days—those who meet the legal standards will be granted asylum, and those who do not will be immediately returned to their home countries.

Watch Ted Cruz explain the legislation:

This is a “quick fix” to solve an immediate problem. The Democrats will hate it because they don’t care about kids, they care about their agenda. They will find a way to say no to this legislation, but hopefully their constituents will shame them into supporting it. This author suspects that the Democrats care more about hurting President Trump than they do about solving this problem, just like Bill Maher said he was willing to let people suffer in a bad economy if it would hurt President Trump.

For his part, Cruz’s Democratic opponent in his upcoming senate race, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso, “led a march” in Tornillo, outside of El Paso.