Media

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).

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus led by Chairman Joaquin Castro are calling on the Trump administration halt deportation flights and urging the Administration to swiftly and safely release individuals in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, preserve regional stability, and save lives. In a letter sent to Secretary of State Pompeo and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Wolf, CHC Members raised concerns that the U.S. practice of deporting and expelling migrants throughout the Latin America and Caribbean region is contributing to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus to countries least able to protect people from the deadly virus.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, May 20, at 3:30 p.m. ET, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus led by Chairman Joaquin Castro will host a press call with Wendy Young, President of Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), and Dr. Katherine Peeler, Pediatric Faculty Member of Harvard Media School and a medical expert with Physicians for Human Rights. The panel will discuss the Trump Administration's unjust treatment of unaccompanied children seeking asylum at the southern border ahead of the CDC's potential public health order's indefinite extension.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the passage of the Heroes Act:

"The Heroes Act is the federal response we need to overcome the gravest national crisis in a century. The coronavirus pandemic and the Trump administration's failures have resulted in nearly 1.5 million people infected, over 87,000 American deaths, and more than 36 million unemployed workers. Latinos have been hit especially hard in this crisis — one in five are out of work, we are the highest uninsured rate of any group, and also make up millions of essential workers as part of our nation's ‘critical infrastructure.' This bill sends a strong message that we will get through this crisis together as one American family.

WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders of color are warning that the COVID-19 pandemic risks disproportionately undercounting historically underserved communities. In the letter to Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham, the Tri-Caucus Chairs and Native American Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Deb Haaland are requesting immediate action and answers to their questions about census operations impacted by COVID-19, but also critical to a complete count in 2020.

The letter was signed by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (CA-37), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Judy Chu (CA-27), and Congressional Native American Caucus Co-Chair Deb Haaland (NM-1), and CBC Census 2020 Task Force Chair Steven Horsford (NV-04).

WASHINGTON — Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro, Congressman Joe Kennedy III, and 46 House Democratic members sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Wolf urging him take immediate steps to safely and swiftly reduce detention population numbers to help safeguard public health.