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Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs conducted a transcribed interview of Marta Costanzo Youth, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. The transcribed interview is a part of the committee’s work to provide transparency to the American people regarding taxpayer funded activities the State Department oversees in Central and South America that likely are exacerbating the crisis at our southern border.

“Through this committee’s oversight work, we have discovered troubling actions by the U.S. State Department disguised as humanitarian assistance,” stated Chairman McCaul. “For example, the U.S. government is funding organizations that inform migrants how to circumvent our immigration laws so they will likely be released into the United States upon arrival. It’s far past time we take a close look at exactly what the State Department is funding with taxpayer dollars in Central and South America and whether it is inadvertently–or perhaps purposefully–exacerbating the situation at the southern border. We must ensure that any aid is deployed efficiently and consistent with U.S. interests.”

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