Dear constituent,

This week has been heavy for the West Michigan community.

This weekend, The New York Times published a story exposing companies and manufacturers exploiting migrant children right here in Grand Rapids. These companies put these vulnerable children to work in extremely dangerous conditions, working long hours, sometimes resulting in life-altering injuries.

The revelations here are shocking, and the treatment of these children is barbaric and inhumane. It’s been over 100 years since we put labor laws on the books to protect kids. We shouldn’t be witnessing these kinds of egregious violations a century later. I’ve spent my entire career working to address our broken immigration and labor systems—and I’m not sitting idly by while these children are exploited.

When I learned the news, I took immediate action. I called the White House, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Labor. I asked them to form an inter-agency task force to deal with this issue. It’s clear that we need these agencies to collaborate more closely so that these children—children—do not fall through the cracks. I kept the pressure on all weekend and I’m pleased to report that, on Monday, the Administration announced that they would be adopting my idea and forming this group to combat rising child labor violations.

I’m grateful that the Administration is taking steps in the right direction, but we must do more. Congress has not acted on immigration reform in decades, and it’s time to take action. I’m inviting my colleagues to join me in putting politics aside and problem solving a plan for comprehensive immigration reform. Just this week, I’ve met with Democrats and Republicans, talking about how we can get things done to change the status quo on immigration.

My number one focus is protection and justice for these children. A dysfunctional immigration system leads to not only border insecurity, but spikes in fentanyl deaths, rising levels of human trafficking, and abuse of children, like we saw exposed in West Michigan this weekend.

I’m fighting for these children–because all West Michiganders deserve protections and freedoms, no matter where you come from, your age, the color of your skin, or the language you speak.

If you–or anyone you know–needs help, do not hesitate to reach out to our office at (616) 451-8383.


In solidarity,

Hillary Scholten
Member of Congress