Civil Rights, Housing, and Voting Rights

Washington, D.C. - Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement on reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are targeting and criminally charging parents and sponsors of unaccompanied children:

"I'm alarmed by reports that the Trump Administration is using a strategy that punishes victims of human smuggling and their family members as a way to deter human traffickers. Oftentimes families have no option but to pay smugglers to protect the lives of these vulnerable, innocent children.

Washington, D.C. - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus urges the House to oppose "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act" (H.R. 3003) and "Kate's Law" (H.R. 3004).

These two measures will undercut law enforcement's ability to keep communities safe, undermine Constitutional protections, and criminalize immigrants. The severe incarceration penalties in H.R. 3004 will swell the number of immigrants in prisons with no criminal convictions and tear families apart. H.R.

Washington, D.C. - Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement on Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General Jeff Sessions declining to meet with the CHC:

"Attorney General Jeff Sessions' refusal to meet with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus once again shows that this Administration is not interested in productively engaging Members of Congress regarding policy changes and proposals that impact millions of families. Instead of working with Congress to ensure fair and impartial justice for all, Mr. Sessions has been issuing directives that make communities less safe by driving a wedge between local police and communities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the 5^th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Congressional Tri-Caucus Chairs – composed of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) – sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly asking him to clarify the agency's policies toward DACA and to protect DREAMers from deportation.

While the Trump Administration claims to not be targeting DACA recipients for immigration enforcement, there have been several cases reported of U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement concerning the nomination of Francis Cissna as Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:

"I have deep reservations about President Trump's pick to head U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). I urge our colleagues in the Senate to vote "no" on President Trump's pick to head this very important federal agency, which is so vital to welcoming immigrants and vulnerable refugees into our country.

"At his confirmation hearing on May 24, 2017, Mr. Cissna admitted that he had a role on the Trump transition team and offered his "technical assistance" in crafting some of the President's draconian immigration policies.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) released the following statement on the current situation in Venezuela:

"The situation in Venezuela has deteriorated substantially in the past year. During this time, Nicolás Maduro has steadily undermined Venezuela's democratic institutions. He has thwarted the Venezuelan people's efforts to initiate a recall referendum, he has delayed gubernatorial elections, and his handpicked Supreme Court has stripped key powers from the Venezuelan legislature. In his continued efforts to avoid elections, Maduro launched an unconstitutional and undemocratic effort to further consolidate power by convening a sham Constituent Assembly to rewrite the constitution by his handpicked supporters.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus – which is composed of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus – sent a letter to the outgoing Director of the U.S. Census Bureau John H. Thompson inviting him to a meeting to discuss concerns and determine how Tri-Caucus Members can better support the U.S. Census Bureau as it prepares for the 2020 Census.

As stated in the letter, "[The Chairs] were troubled to learn that [Director Thompson] will be stepping down as U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Members of the CHC sent a letter to Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General Jeff Sessions inviting him to a meeting to discuss the many concerns Members have with recent DOJ policy changes.

As stated in the letter, "In recent months, the Department of Justice has issued a number of troubling policy changes that run counter to this mission and move us away from a more fair and just society…Many of these changes are constitutionally questionable and some have been overturned in the courts.