Tri-Caucus Chairs Condemn the Trump Administration’s Efforts to Targets Immigrants and Communities of Color

WASHINGTON— Today, the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus – which is composed of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – released the following statements on the Washington Post report on how the Trump Administration's immigration policies are impacting African migrants in Mexico:

"This report is deeply unsettling and clearly enumerates the global repercussions of the Trump Administration's anti-immigrant agenda. Their policies – including metering, Remain in Mexico, and restricting asylum claims world-wide – are cutting off legal paths to migration and imperiling the lives of asylum seekers who have nowhere to turn," said CHC Chairman Castro. "Migrants fearing for their lives, regardless of their country of origin, have a legal right to seek asylum in the United States, and the Trump Administration's policies have undermined that. Our actions and national policies should reflect our American values, and we cannot allow this Administration to continue denying the human dignity of immigrants because of their race or national origin."

"The CBC recognizes the Trump Administration is not attempting to reform the immigration system but is using the issue in a cynical ploy to divide Americans," said CBC Chairwoman Bass. "Sadly, the Washington Post reporting serves as another reminder that President Trump's inhumane polices encourage racial profiling and wrongfully separates families as a deterrent. Although President Trump has attempted to use immigration as a technique to pin minority communities against one another, his ignorance of our communities will bring us together in opposition to his inhumane policies. Together, we must continue to reject any policy that doesn't reflect the values of our country and targets immigrants based on discriminatory practices."

"CAPAC is deeply alarmed by the Trump administration's continued attacks on immigrant communities, including victims from across the globe who are seeking asylum in our country. Not only do these anti-immigrant policies defy logic and basic humanitarian principles, but they also fail to reflect our values as a nation," said CAPAC Chairwoman Chu. "From separating families and putting children in cages to denying legal pathways for asylum seekers to seek safety, this administration has made it clear that their policies aren't based on security or rule of law. They are based on xenophobia and bigotry. This is unacceptable, and the Tri-Caucus will continue to speak out against these discriminatory attempts to target immigrants and communities of color."

Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) serves as Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and also on the Foreign Affairs Committee as full-committee Vice Chair and member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade. Congressmember Karen Bass (CA-37) serves as Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and also as Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Chair on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Aid. Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27) serves as Chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and is also a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

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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.