Press Releases

WASHINGTON— Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the Trump Administration to impose it’s “asylum ban” against those seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border while US litigation plays out:

WASHINGTON— Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Leadership called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Matthew Albence to explain his questionable management of the agency and it’s budget. While ICE spending is at a record high, in part aided by the millions recently diverted from other critical security agencies including FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard, immigrants in their custody are still being subjected to horrific detention conditions and alleged human rights abuses. The CHC requested a meeting with Acting Director Albence in an effort to work together to improve ICE’s management and ensure that the agency abides by Congressional oversight.

SAN ANTONIO — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, released the following statement on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notification to Congress of transfer and reprogramming $271 million in federal funding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the purpose of funding detention beds, transportation, and removal of migrant families:

WASHINGTON— Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) members responded to a groundbreaking study on diversity in Hollywood, focusing specifically on Hispanic talent and representation. The study, entitled “Latinos in Film: Erasure on Screen & Behind the Camera Across 1,200 Popular Movies,” was published by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), and Wise Entertainment, and revealed the depth of exclusion and misrepresentation of Latinos in the entertainment industry.

SAN ANTONIO — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s announcement that it will publish a new regulation on Friday new rule that will undermine the Flores Settlement Agreement, which currently requires that the government hold children in the least restrictive setting and generally release children within 20 days:

WASHINGTON— Yesterday, the Trump Administration released its new public charge rule, which will expand the definition of who is considered a “public charge” and make it more difficult for immigrants to come to the United States or receive green cards if they are likely to use certain benefits they are legally entitled to such as Medicaid, housing assistance, and nutrition assistance. The Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus – Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Judy Chu (CA-27), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Karen Bass (CA-37), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20) – released the following statement on the final public charge rule:

WASHINGTON— Today, the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus – Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (CA-37), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Judy Chu (CA-27) – released the following statement on the rise in hate crimes and domestic terrorism under President Trump on the second anniversary of Heather Heyer’s passing. Heyer was a civil rights activist who was killed during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

SAN ANTONIO — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s new public charge rule, which will deny green cards to immigrants who use or may use public benefits they are legally entitled to such as housing assistance, health programs and nutrition assistance: