Press Releases

SAN ANTONIO, TX —Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement to mark the one-year anniversary of the El Paso shooting, the deadliest act of anti-Latino violence in modern history.

"One year ago today, a gunman motivated by white supremacy drove over 600 miles to the bi-national community of El Paso, Texas, and killed 23 people and wounded 22 others in an act of terror. We lost veterans, coaches, immigrants, and parents, all members of a vibrant border community — a city that reflects the promise of America as a nation of immigrants.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—composed of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20)—released the following statement on the K-12 education provisions in the Senate Republicans' HEALS Act.

"Over the past six months, we have watched the COVID-19 pandemic worsen existing inequality and inflict devastating harm on communities of color. Rather than providing these communities with relief, the Senate Republicans' HEALS Act exploits that inequality in a way that will endanger the health and safety of students of color, their teachers and school staff, and their families.

Washington, D.C. —Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2420, the National Museum of the American Latino Act, led by co-sponsors Rep. José E. Serrano (D-NY-15), Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX-23). Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12); Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD-5); Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA-29); Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ-3), Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources; Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA-31), CHC member of the Committee on House Administration, were all instrumental to the bill's consideration and passage. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after the historic passage of National Museum of the American Latino Act:

Washington, D.C. — Today members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus led by Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) held a call with Hilton executives about the detention of migrant children in their hotels. After the call, Chairman Castro released the following statement:

"The Congressional Hispanic Caucus supports Hilton's commitment to stop using their hotels as detention centers that circumvent due process for migrant families and children," said Chairman Joaquin Castro, Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

"It is important for the entire hospitality industry to adopt a similar policy. Congress must not only investigate these incidents, but also take legislative action to prevent this cruel practice in the future." added Chairman Castro.

WASHINGTON — Seventy-eight House Democrats and Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) led by Chairman Joaquin Castro are asking the House and Senate Leadership to enact an emergency supplemental funding bill further responding to the COVID-19 pandemic before the end of July, including sufficient funding for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to continue its important mission and avoid crippling furloughs and appropriate parameters to improve the agency's operations. In the letter to Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell and Leader McCarthy, Members of Congress laid out necessary guardrails to ensure responsibility and accountability from USCIS in the future.

WASHINGTON — Eighty House Democrats and Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) led by Chairman Joaquin Castro are demanding the Trump administration safely and swiftly release all parents and children that are in immigration family detention centers by July 17. While there is ongoing litigation, the Trump Administration currently has the authority to release families from ICE detention together independently from any court orders. In a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Wolf and Acting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Albence, the Members of Congress denounced the Trump administration's use of the pandemic to implement cruel and inhumane policies toward immigrants, and urged ICE to seek alternatives to family detention and commit to a permanent policy of family unity.

Washington, D.C. — Leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—composed of Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27)—sent a letter to Majority Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Schumer urging the U.S. Senate to include H.R. 7027, the Child Care is Essential Act, and H.R. 7327, the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act, in the next coronavirus recovery package.

Washington, D.C. — Leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—composed of Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27)—sent a letter to Congressional Leadership requesting that any educational funding provided by Congress in response to COVID-19 is combined with strong equity guardrails that will safeguard low-income students of color from their state's fiscal challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As low-income families continue to face job losses and poverty, we must come together to protect these vulnerable students, otherwise it will significantly impact the academic achievement and chances of success for students of color.