Civil Rights, Housing, and Voting Rights

Washington D.C. — Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) released the following statement on Cinco de Mayo:

"This American holiday represents more than just a single victory in battle. Today we honor the rich contributions made by Mexican-Americans to our nation's culture, society, and history and we recommit to the forward progress of the Hispanic community, whose culture, arts, heritage and history we celebrate."

"Since last year's Cinco De Mayo, the Trump Administration has continued its relentless attacks on Hispanic families. From going after DACA and TPS, to perpetuating irrational and harmful anti-immigration policies and rhetoric, this Administration's words and actions have made clear just how little regard they have for Hispanic Americans and immigrant families.

Washington, D.C. - Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), led by U.S. Representatives Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Luis Gutiérrez (IL-4) and CHC Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-1) sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging him to scrap the Department of Justice's plan to impose quotas and case completion deadlines on federal immigration judges' performance evaluations.

"We strongly urge the Department to reconsider this shortsighted plan that will undermine due process and adversely impact our nation's immigration court system," the Members wrote to Attorney General Sessions. "This proposal will likely worsen, not improve, the immigration court backlog of 685,000 current pending cases by resulting in protracted litigation through the appeals process," the Members continued.

Washington, D.C. - Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) released the following statement after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), part of the Department of Justice (DOJ), will continue the Legal Orientation Program (LOP) while the department conducts a review of the program, rather than suspend it as planned:

"Attorney General Sessions' announcement that he would not halt the Legal Orientation Program (LOP) is a step in the right direction. The LOP not only provides critical and even life-saving information to immigrants about their rights, it also saves taxpayers millions of dollars by improving the efficiency of our immigration court system.

Washington D.C.— Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), led by Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.) sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions seeking an immediate reversal of his decision to suspend the Legal Orientation Program (LOP) and the Immigration Court HelpDesk (ICH). Both programs have been shown to save taxpayer dollars and improve efficiencies in the court system.

"While you have made statements, and issued memorandums calling on immigration courts to run more effectively and alleviate immigration court backlogs, suspending the LOP Program is in diametric opposition to this desired outcome," the Members wrote.

Washington D.C. — Today, the U.S. Senate voted 50-47 to confirm the nomination of Kyle Duncan to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) released the following statement strongly opposing Kyle Duncan's confirmation:

"Kyle Duncan's career and judicial body of work does not meet the standard to merit a nomination, confirmation or lifetime appointment to our federal bench. His decisions and public record demonstrate a disregard for impartiality. Most alarmingly, Duncan's legal career was built undermining the rights of immigrants, minorities, women and LGBTQ Americans. It is clear that Mr. Duncan espouses the same extreme political views as President Trump.

Washington, D.C. - Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) released the following statement in honor of Earth Day:

"On Earth Day we renew our commitment to the protection and preservation of our environment, land, water and wildlife. In contrast to the President's reckless disregard for the environment, we must advance policies that address climate change and continue to do the right thing for the health of our families and planet.

"Environmental issues are Hispanic issues and impact every single one of us. Hispanics are among the most vulnerable to extreme weather events and are more likely to suffer health issues stemming from environmental pollution.

Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Committee marked up and passed H.R. 2 – the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 – commonly known as the Farm Bill. This version of the Farm Bill makes dramatic changes and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. SNAP is a temporary program that helps Americans struggling with food insecurity and poverty provide their children and families the sustenance they need to be healthy. SNAP is a powerful anti-poverty program for Hispanic families and Americans in both urban and rural communities across the country.

Washington, D.C. - Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) released the following statement in response to the island-wide blackout in Puerto Rico:

"I am appalled to hear that nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria, the entire island of Puerto Rico is once again without power. It is unconscionable that, more than half a year after this devastation, millions of our fellow Americans continue to live under intolerable conditions - without access to clean water, food and electricity.

"The Trump administration failed Puerto Rico in the days and weeks following the deadly hurricane, and continues to fail and neglect the people of Puerto Rico. It is disgraceful that one of the most powerful nations in the world has utterly failed in helping our fellow Americans.