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January 7, 2019
ALAMOGORDO, NEW MEXICO—Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Hispanic Caucus, led a congressional delegation to Alamogordo Border Patrol Station to investigate the circumstances surrounding Felipe Gomez Alonzo’s death. He was joined by Congresswoman Xotchil Torres Small (NM-02); Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR); House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (NY-10), House Democratic Policy and Communications Chair David Cicilline (RI-01), Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44); Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24); and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16).
January 4, 2019
ALAMOGORDO, NEW MEXICO—On Monday, Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02) and Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Joaquin Castro (TX-20) will lead a delegation to Alamogordo, New Mexico to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Felipe Gomez Alonzo in U.S. CBP custody. Following the tour of the facility, the Members will brief the press on how these stations are equipped to protect the health and safety of those seeking refuge at our borders.
December 27, 2018
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Chairman-Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee issued the following joint statement calling for the preservation of all evidence related to the two child deaths in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody, as well as announcing they will conduct hearings and oversight in the new Congress into those deaths and conditions in those facilities generally:
December 25, 2018
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following statement:
December 20, 2018
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following statement:
December 18, 2018
LORDSBURG, NEW MEXICO—Today, the Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Joaquin Castro (TX-20) led a delegation to Antelope Wells Port of Entry and Lordsburg Border Patrol Station to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin in U.S. CBP custody. Following their investigation of Jakelin’s journey, the Members briefed the press on how these stations are equipped to protect the health and safety of those seeking refuge at our borders:
December 18, 2018
LORDSBURG, NEW MEXICO—Today, the Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Joaquin Castro (TX-20) led a delegation to the Antelope Wells Port of Entry and Lordsburg Border Patrol Station to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody. Following their investigation of Jakelin’s journey, the Members briefed the press on how these holding stations are equipped to protect the health and safety of those seeking refuge at our borders. Chairman Elect Castro answered the following questions from the press:
December 18, 2018
LORDSBURG, NEW MEXICO—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following remarks after visiting the Antelope Wells Port of Entry and the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station where Jakelin Caal entered the U.S. and was held in Customs and Border Protection Custody prior to her tragic death on December 8th:
December 14, 2018
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, this evening released the following statement in response to the tragic death of a seven-year-old in U.S. CBP custody:
December 14, 2018
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, led a letter signed by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Inspector General John Kelly following news of a 7-year-old girl who died last week while in the custody of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. The death, first revealed by the Washington Post, raises significant questions about the conditions in CBP’s short-term holding facilities, and the general suitability of such facilities for families given that Border Patrol stations were never designed to hold children. In their letter, the Members requested the IG’s office begin an immediate formal investigation with the expectation that DHS would quickly provide answers to Congress on why this tragedy happened, what policies may have been contributing factors in a young girl's death, and how it was never reported by CBP as directed by Congress in the statement accompanying the FY18 DHS Funding bill.