CHC Denounces Immigration Raids

Washington, DC- Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) released the following statements opposing the reported plans by ICE to deport Central American refugees. The plans were first reported by Reuters yesterday.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has been denouncing these ICE removals since January. Among the Caucus’ efforts, the CHC released a statement in January opposing the raids, held a press conference, and requested a meeting with President Obama to discuss this issue. CHC Members also joined House Democrats in sending a letter to the Administration to express their concern on the removal of these mothers and children and called for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

CHC Chairwoman Linda T. Sánchez: “The Congressional Hispanic Caucus denounces the separation of mothers and children who are fleeing rape, violence, and even death in Central America. We have been requesting a meeting with President Obama and have sent multiple letters to the Administration expressing our opposition to the removals. We need to stop these deportations and focus our attention on the root causes of this refugee crisis in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.”

CHC First Vice Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham: “The Administration continues to mishandle and separate families, including children, who fled dangerous and threatening conditions in their home countries. The U.S. Administration has failed to provide adequate legal counsel to these families during the immigration process and as a result the Administration may be deporting families eligible to stay in U.S. back to dangerous conditions and even death. The immigration process should not be abused to send a message to refugees that they are not welcome here. This is not what we stand for as Americans.”

CHC Second Vice Chair Joaquin Castro: “If reports of upcoming raids targeting mothers and children are true, I urge DHS to reassess its priorities. Criminals should be the first targets for deportation, not families, the vast majority who came to the United States fleeing violence.”

CHC Whip Ruben Gallego: “I am outraged that ICE is planning more raids targeting Central American mothers and children who came to the U.S. fleeing violence and oppression. This is a humanitarian issue. These families have already faced severe trauma in their home countries. We shouldn’t be invading their homes and rushing to send them back to dangerous, life-threatening situations, especially when they present no threat to national security.”

Congressman José E. Serrano: “I strongly oppose further deportation raids. Millions of immigrant families are already suffering the effects of the hold on DAPA/DACA’s implementation, and further raids will create an atmosphere of fear in immigrant communities across the nation. These raids will also disproportionately target women and children, our most vulnerable immigrant groups. Immigrant families deserve better. I urge the Obama Administration to reconsider this ill-timed decision.”

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra: “This is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Our nation must do more to help Central American women, children, and other vulnerable populations fleeing violence. We must treat immigrants with compassion and fairness, and provide them with a fair hearing and opportunity to share their stories.”

Congressman Luis Gutiérrez: “Deportation and raids are not the right strategies to deal with a crisis of violence in Central America. Mothers and children are fleeing for their lives and face dangerous situations if we send them back. We need a regional, hemispheric approach to the Central American refugee crisis, not raids.”

Sen. Bob Menendez: "At a time when we should be standing up for the values and ideals we hold as Americans and against the xenophobic rhetoric being propagated by Donald Trump's party, it is truly disheartening to read reports of a possible new round of deportation raids further targeting Central American mothers and children in the U.S. who recently fled their homelands to avoid a certain death. Instead of eagerly deporting vulnerable populations, we should be addressing the root causes of this urgent hemispheric crisis by providing alternative safe havens in the region, expanding refugee resettlement programs, and forging new partnerships that will create security, peace and safety for families in their native countries. Now is simply not the time to turn a blind eye to the desperate reality facing these mothers and children, and the Administration's cruel insistence on addressing this crisis strictly through the lens of border security and immigration enforcement will continue to fail and contradicts their commitment to remove felons and not families."

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard: “I am deeply concerned by reports of enforcement operations targeting Central American families who have come to America seeking asylum. We must not send families back to face rape, abuse, and death in their home countries simply for the sake of trying to deter future asylum seekers from looking for safety in America. Navigating our complex legal system is an extremely difficult task, especially for people who have experienced trauma and do not speak English. Our country must ensure that these vulnerable families and children have access to meaningful due process, including effective legal representation.”

Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez: “These unconscionable raids are an affront to our heritage as a nation of immigrants. These actions do nothing to make our nation safer, but they do sow fear among immigrant communities and families by targeting women and children who, in many cases, have already fled dreadful circumstances. The Administration must cease these shameful tactics immediately.”

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa: “I stand with my Congressional Hispanic Caucus colleagues in opposing a new wave of deportations aimed at removing hundreds of Central American women and children refugees. The immigration agencies have lost their focus on security enforcement by also targeting non-criminal immigrants. These children and families deserve due process, counsel, and most of all, humanitarian treatment instead of being returned to the danger and violence from which they fled. I will meet with DHS officials and implore them to stop this plan next week when I chair the next meeting of the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation.”

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano: “We strongly urge the Administration to reconsider these proposed actions and stop deporting families who are here seeking asylum. Women and children have fled unspeakable violence and horror, and many of them have not received their due process granted under the law. The Administration must look at where these families may be sent back to and direct ICE to go after those who pose danger to our communities. We must show compassion through humanitarian assistance and protect families from further harm and trauma.”

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez: “I’ve said it again and again: comprehensive immigration reform is the moral imperative of our nation. Families are on the line while Congress avoids fixing our broken immigration system. I strongly condemn these planned deportation raids which will target mothers and children who’ve found refuge in our country after fleeing horrific violence in Central America. These raids will tear apart families, divide communities, and spread toxic mistrust and fear. Immigration officials must redirect this harmful planned course of action.”

Congressman Raúl Grijalva: “I am appalled to learn that the administration is planning to target women and children in yet another round of raids that will send chills through immigrant communities across the country. The people ICE rounds up in these raids are here to flee poverty, violence and oppression in their home countries. What values is this administration espousing by ejecting them back into desperation? My heart breaks for the families that will be thrown into tumult by these raids. Our nation should respond by ensuring these women and children are able to present their asylum claims in court, with full access to counsel and due process protections. My only hope is that the next administration rejects such callous and pointless tactics.”

Congressman Ben Ray Luján: “We must recognize that many of the migrants are refugees, women and children who came here fleeing violence and abuse. We must take every precaution to ensure that families and children are not being sent back to the violence they are fleeing, where they would face persecution, torture, human trafficking or death. With the limited resources the Department of Homeland Security has, it should be maintaining a focus on felons not families, criminals not children.”

Congressman Tony Cárdenas: “These heart-breaking actions by the Administration ignore the true issue at hand – our immigration system needs to be fixed. Such actions generate fear amongst immigrants and Americans with diverse backgrounds. I am saddened that our nation has resorted to making the path to citizenship narrow, painful, and perilous. If the people being targeted in these raids have not been a threat to our communities or the safety of our nation, then I ask that the Administration please reconsider their plans and refrain from potentially imposing years of trauma on the communities, mothers and children involved. These actions leave behind devastated communities and families and negatively impacts the American economy. This, simply, does not make any sense.”

Congressman Pete Aguilar: “I strongly disagree with the Administration's decision to move forward with this new series of deportations. The women and children that are being targeted were not guaranteed due process and tearing apart families seeking safety goes against our values as a nation.”

Congresswoman Norma Torres: “This is absolutely the wrong approach. These are women and children fleeing violence, gang recruitment, and sexual exploitation who may not have had access to legal counsel or been adequately screened for potential asylum eligibility, particularly those who may be suffering from PTSD or other disabilities and require, under the law, that reasonable accommodations be made. Rather than rushing to send them back into harm’s way, I urge the administration to focus their efforts here at home on those who actually pose security risks and to work with our international partners in the region to provide safe and legal alternatives to migration.”

####