Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), LULAC National President, Domingo Garcia, and LULAC National CEO will be meeting with Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy to demand that the Army support the call for the Defense Department Inspector General's Office to conduct a full and independent investigation into Fort Hood's handling of Vanessa Guillen's case. In addition, other cases of Latino soldiers who have reported sexual harassment and/or been victims of still unresolved homicides and other abuses are being presented to the Army.

Congresswoman Garcia and LULAC leadership will be hosting a press conference after their meeting with Army Secretary McCarthy.

Details for the press conference can be found below:

WHO: U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)

Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) led a letter with 87 Members of Congress in support of Rep. Speier and Sen. Gillibrand's request for Sean O'Donnell, the Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General, to conduct an independent investigation into Fort Hood's handling of Specialist (SPC) Vanessa Guillen's case. Rep. Speier serves as Chair of the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee and Senator Gillibrand is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Washington, D.C. —Leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—composed of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37)—issued the following joint statement after the House Democratic Caucus voted to include aDiversity Rule in the Caucus rules that encourages Members to prioritize diversity and inclusion in hiring practices:

San Antonio, TX — Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after remains were identified as Vanessa Guillen's and in support of calls for justice:

"On behalf of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, we extend our deepest condolences to the Guillen family and loved ones for their loss. Vanessa was a 20-year-old, brave Latina solider with her whole life ahead of her. She did not deserve to die while serving her country.

"In the months since her disappearance, thousands of people across the United States, particularly Latinas, have spoken up about sexual harassment and assault in the military, echoing the allegations of the Guillen family. Their voices must be heard and listened to.

WASHINGTON — Over a dozen members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) led by Chairman Joaquin Castro are calling on President Trump to cancel his meeting with Mexican President López Obrador before the upcoming election, citing Trump's failures to contain the virus that's devasting Latino and border communities, and his cruelty with Migrant Protection Protocols.

"Your decision to hold a meeting when the Congress is not in session, when members of Congress will be in our districts addressing the needs of communities across the United States that have been devastated by this pandemic, is a blatant attempt to politicize the important U.S.-Mexico relationship along partisan lines," the Members wrote. "we strongly urge you to reconsider and cancel this meeting."

WASHINGTON —110 House Democrats and Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) led by Chairman Joaquin Castro are demanding that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) immediately begin accepting new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In a letter to Acting DHS Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, Members of Congress demanded USCIS provide clear guidance and immediately begin accepting new DACA applications.

"We should not need to tell you that under our Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court, not the Administration, determines whether the rescission of DACA was lawful," the Members wrote. "USCIS and the Administration must faithfully administer our nation's immigration laws by providing clear guidance implementing the Court's order."

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 following the order of Judge Dolly Gee. 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. – Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the highest-ranking Latino in Congress, today led a group of colleagues in introducing a bicameral resolution recognizing June 2020 as "Immigrant Heritage Month," a month to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions immigrants and their children have made to the United States.