CHC Letter Urging DOJ and DHS to Investigate the Intentional Separation of Migrant Families at the Hands of Governor Abbott
CHC Communications | Brian Garcia | brian.garcia3@mail.house.gov
Rep. Joaquin Castro | Geneva Kropper | geneva@mail.house.gov
Rep. Sylvia Garcia | Karla Rodriguez | Karla.Rodriguez@mail.house.gov
Rep. Veronica Escobar| Abbey Thompson | abbey.thompson@mail.house.gov
Rep. Tony Cárdenas | Enrique Gutierrez | enrique.gutierrez@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding a full and transparent investigation into the intentional separation of migrant families at the hands of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The CHC also requests both agencies to take necessary measures to prevent this cruel practice and ensure families can remain together.
The letter, signed by 28 Representatives, can be found here. Members issued the following statements:
“The reports that children and families at the U.S.-Mexico border are being traumatized through cruel separation tactics ordered by Governor Greg Abbott are disturbing,” said CHC Chair Nanette Barragán. “The Governor continues to escalate his inhumane border policies causing further harm to innocent people. The CHC has learned that fathers are allegedly being incarcerated in deplorable conditions with little to no communication given to mothers and children on their whereabouts. Reports also claim that their rights to due process are being violated with threats of waiting months in jail and promises of being reunited with their loved ones immediately if they instead choose to plead guilty. The CHC will not stand for the mistreatment of vulnerable migrant families and asylum seekers. We call on the DOJ and DHS to investigate these allegations and ensure these families are reunited so they can proceed with their immigration cases together.”
"With Operation Lone Star, Governor Greg Abbott is taking our country down a road that is reminiscent of the worst episodes of moral failure in our country's history," said Rep. Joaquin Castro. "The Biden administration must not simply look the other way while children are dying on Operation Lone Star buses and fathers are being ripped from their families and detained for months at a time with no due process. Americans deserve serious conversations about immigration reform, but this brutality has no place in our country. There's a right way to treat people and a wrong way to treat people, and the federal government has a responsibility to step in and protect human rights."
“The tactics we're seeing Greg Abbott employ against migrants in the name of ‘border security’ are just as inhumane and horrendous as they were when the Trump administration used them. Justifying family separation and cruelty as deterrents to legal asylum seeking has no place in immigration policy or this country,” said Rep. Veronica Escobar. “While I remain grateful for the Biden administration’s commitment to finding solutions to the challenges at our borders within the scope of the executive branch, the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security must immediately investigate this needless suffering at our border inflicted by those seeking political wins for their base.”
“Governor Abbott continues his political stunts in implementing illegal, cruel, and inhumane tactics to unsuccessfully prevent migrant families from seeking a better quality of life,” said CHC Whip Rep. Sylvia Garcia. “It is deeply alarming to hear reports of children being torn apart from their parents. Operation Lone Star interferes with the federal government’s role in enforcing immigration law and frustrates migrants' efforts in using their legal right to ask for asylum. Along with my colleagues, we urge the DOJ and DHS to conduct a thorough investigation into these serious allegations and take proactive measures to ensure the reunification of these families."
“Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star blatantly disregards basic human rights and the rule of law, “said Rep. Tony Cárdenas. “During my visit to the U.S.-Mexico border last week, I witnessed firsthand the cruelty imposed on asylum-seeking migrants and their families. Family separation is inhumane and beneath the values of our country. I join my colleagues in calling on the DOJ and DHS to investigate any unlawful practices and to quickly intervene to protect the rule of law.”
This letter comes following multiple reports that DPS is arresting and incarcerating men who arrive in the United States and separating them from their families as part of Operation Lone Star.
The letter was also co-signed by U.S. Representatives: Lou Correa (CA-46), Greg Casar (TX-35), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Darren Soto (FL-09), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Grace F. Napolitano (CA-31), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Mike Levin (CA-49), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Raul Ruiz, M.D (CA-25).
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