Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following statement following press reports that more than 2,000 workers at Tornillo have not received background checks:

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, First Vice Chair Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Second Vice Chair Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) released the following statement on the passing of Congressman Ed Pastor:

"Ed served with distinction in the House of Representatives as the first Hispanic member from Arizona, paving the way for countless Hispanic lawmakers to follow. Serving as a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, his contributions to the state of Arizona, to the Latino community, and to our nation will forever be appreciated. We will continue to carry Ed's legacy by renewing our commitment to advocate for the Hispanic community, and create equal opportunities for all," said First Vice Chair Congressman Joaquin Castro.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and First Vice Chair Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen urging them to reject any proposed increases in funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in particular for immigration detention, ICE agents, and Trump's border wall.

WASHINGTON--Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement:

"For generations, Republican and Democratic Administration have maintained an orderly, humane asylum process that respects international law while protecting the sovereignty and security of the United States. Yet, the Trump Administration has failed miserably.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Darren Soto, Chair of the Civil and Voting Rights Task Force in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, released the following statement following surfaced court documents indicating the Trump Administration is considering sharing confidential census data with law enforcement and other national security agencies:

"Suggesting personal census information could be shared with law enforcement agencies is yet another reprehensible fearmongering tactic by the Trump administration. Federal law protects the confidentiality of responses to the U.S. Census, and any attempt to threaten those safeguards would not only be against the law, it would also gravely jeopardize the accuracy of the count."

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), issued the following statement in response to a federal judge ordering the U.S. government not to enforce President Trump's asylum restrictions, which denied asylum to immigrants fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries.

"The recent ruling that blocks the Trump Administration's proposed asylum ban confirms that President Trump overstepped his legal authority by closing the door on vulnerable women, men and children who are peacefully seeking refuge in our country. While this ruling has provided temporary relief for asylum-seeking families, it is clear that the Trump Administration will continue implementing their anti-immigrant agenda and targeting vulnerable communities."

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), issued the following statement celebrating Veterans Day and recognizing the contributions of Latino Veterans:

"On Veterans Day and every day, we must recognize the men and women in uniform who served our nation, including the Hispanic veterans who served with distinction since the first days of the American Revolution. They helped protect our democracy and guarantee freedom and security for all Americans.

WASHINGTON — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following statement in response to the Trump Administration's interim final rule and presidential proclamation seeking to limit asylum claims for migrants at the US-Mexico border:

"Seeking asylum in our country is not illegal. It is written into our nation's immigration laws, and protected under international law, to ensure those who have a credible fear of persecution can present their case. In order to expand an anti-immigrant agenda, the Trump Administration has chosen to flagrantly ignore U.S and international law and violate human rights by closing the door on vulnerable women, men and children who are peacefully turning themselves over to immigration authorities to seek refuge from extreme violence and economic strife.