Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairs Statement of President Trump’s Executive Order on Suspending Immigration

SAN ANTONIO—Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement in response to President Trump's executive order on suspending immigration:

"Rather than address the lack of testing or bring together a grieving nation after over 40,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, President Trump is instead diverting attention away from his failures by blaming immigrants and using this crisis to advance his anti-immigrant agenda.

"Donald Trump wants to alter the long-term demographics of America by reducing legal immigration. He's seizing this global pandemic as a convenient cover for his cynical political objectives.

"There is a carve out in Trump's immigration order for farmworkers, with H2A visas predominately from Mexico, because he's ok with essential Latino workers as long as they continue making money for big industry. There is also an exception for EB-5 visas for individuals who spend enough money on development projects—a preferred financing tool of the Kushners' company. He halted the diversity visa program from nations with historically low rates of immigration, places he referred to as ‘shithole countries.'"

"Immigrants account for about one in five health care workers, almost a quarter of long-term care workers, and contribute to every part of American society. Without the contributions of immigrants as essential workers, our nation would cease to function."

"The Green Card is a powerfully important symbol of the American Dream, and for generations of new Americans it has been the key that unlocks a nation of freedom and opportunity. The United States became the most powerful, wealthiest nation on Earth because we welcomed immigrants from around the world. Today is a stain on that history.

"This executive order, like Trump's presidency, is a complete failure."

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.