Press Releases

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) issued the following on the GAO report that CBP violated appropriations law:

"CBP broke the law, and it's outrageous. Last summer, Congress appropriated $112 million to CBP in emergency funding to help improve conditions for migrants at the border after multiple deaths in custody. Instead of ensuring all appropriated funds went to help vulnerable migrants in their custody, the Trump administration bought dog food and dirt bikes. It's absolutely appalling. Nearly one-hundred House Democrats joined CHC Members in opposing the supplemental bill and warned that it did not do enough to hold the administration accountable or stop the rampant human rights abuses at the border. We were correct. CBP's predictable conduct is unacceptable."

# # #

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus led by Chairman Castro are calling on the Trump administration to cease the expulsion and removal of unaccompanied migrant children to Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries. In a letter sent to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Wolf, CHC Members raised concerns that the expulsion and removal of vulnerable children can exposes them to danger and greater risk of COVID-19 exposure.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, along with U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-51) and Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-31), led a bicameral group of colleagues inrequesting the Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to open an investigation into whether the agency violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in its decision to change the agency's policy to deny Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured loans to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, June 4^th, 2020, at 11am ET, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus led by Chairman Joaquin Castro will hold a press call with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to mark the one-year anniversary of the House passing the American Dream and Promise Act, and call for Senator McConnell to bring H.R. 6 for a vote. They will be joined by Senators Durbin and Menendez, H.R. 6 co-author Congresswoman Velázquez, a DACA recipient, and a TPS holder.

WHO:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Congressional Hispanic Caucus led by Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) is endorsing a resolution to condemn police brutality, racial profiling and excessive use of force led by Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05), in partnership with Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA-37), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13). The endorsement of the resolution comes after the murder of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, as well as the recent murder of Breonna Taylor by police in Louisville, Kentucky and the historic nationwide protests for justice.

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the murder of George Floyd by police and days of protests:

"America witnessed a murder this week. George Floyd, a black man from Minneapolis, should still be alive. Floyd was killed by a white police officer after a knee was pressed to the back of his neck for nearly nine minutes as three other officers, all sworn to protect and serve, did nothing to save him.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Democratic Committee Chairs sent a letter to Health and Human Services Deputy Inspector General Grimm calling on him to investigate allegations that ICE is interfering with ORR's legal obligation under the Flores Settlement to place children in the least restrictive settings, including placement with suitable sponsors.

The letter was signed by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20), House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chair Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), and House Judiciary Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chair Zoe Lofgren (CA-19).

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Democratic Committee Chairs sent a letter to Acting DHS Secretary Wolf and Acting ICE Director Albence calling on DHS and ICE to halt deportations of unaccompanied children and guarantee due process protections.

The letter was signed by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20), House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chair Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), and House Judiciary Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chair Zoe Lofgren (CA-19).