U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva will host members of the Congressional Border Caucus at a hearing Friday in Nogales to discuss various aspects of immigration reform, said a press release from Grijalva's office.
Grijalva, who co-chairs the border caucus, and some of his colleagues plan to showcase the economic and humanitarian effects that comprehensive immigration reform would have on border communities and undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S.
The meeting will focus on arguing for reform legislation that respects human rights, helps end migrant deaths in the desert and expands understanding of national security to include economic prosperity, the press release said.
The ad hoc hearing, taking place at 1 p.m., will be made up of a panel of national and local experts, who will deliver testimony and answer questions from the audience.
Following the hearing, caucus members and attendees will tour the Nogales port of entry. Grijalva has repeatedly introduced bills to modernize border ports of entry and boost trade with Mexico, the press release said.
In June, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan immigration reform bill, which now is in the hands of the House of Representatives.
Grijalva has been vocal in support, but has expressed concern for a possible "militarization" of the border, because the bill includes $46.4 billion for extra border security, including doubling the size of the Border Patrol force to 38,400 officers by 2021.
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