Civil Rights, Housing, and Voting Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement on the apprehension of Daniela Vargas, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient who now faces deportation after speaking at a news conference in Mississippi:

Washington, D.C. – Virginia Democrats Congressman Don Beyer and Senator Tim Kaine joined Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Congresswoman Linda Sanchez and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham yesterday, with other elected officials and immigrants and leaders in immigration policy and advocacy, at the site of a recent ICE crackdown to decry President Trump's abhorrent immigration Executive Orders and call for thoughtful, fair immigration policy.

According to recent news reports, ICE agents targeted Rising Hope Mission Church when they allegedly apprehended at least six men in close proximity to the church.

Reverend Dr. Keary Kincannon opened the conference by pointing out that the space was not only a church - it was a shelter for people at risk of hypothermia.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement on the unprecedented lack of transparency by the Administration regarding their immigration priorities:

"The Trump Administration's lack of communication and transparency about its immigration priorities is leading to mass hysteria in communities across the nation. The Hispanic Caucus continues to advocate for clear answers and consistency from the administration so we can effectively represent our communities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the leadership of the Congressional Quad-Caucus – which is composed of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) – issued statements condemning President Donald Trump's recent executive orders, which were directly targeted at the immigrant community. President Trump signed executive orders that enable the construction of a border wall, increase funding for detention centers on the border, cut federal funding to sanctuary cities and various other anti-immigrant actions. Quad-Caucus leaders issued the following statements:

CHC Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01):

Washington, D.C. – Representative Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), today released the following statement following the results of the 2016 election:

"This election yielded a lot of hurt and divisive rhetoric. The Latino community was scapegoated for political gain. We know there is fear and angst, especially in the undocumented immigrant community, but we are still with you. For the past 40 years, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has served as the voice and conscience of the Latino community on Capitol Hill. We will not give up on this work, and we will never give up on the community.

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Latina members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) released the following statements in observance of Latina Equal Pay Day, which raises awareness about the stark wage gap faced by Latina workers. For each dollar that their white male counterparts earn, Latinas are paid only 54 cents, leading to an estimated cumulative loss of around $1 million in potential income per Latina over a 40-year period. Latinas face the largest wage gap among all racial and ethnic groups.

Latina Equal Pay Day is observed on November 1 as that is the approximate date by which a Latina's pay would have caught up with that of white non-Hispanic men from the previous year. It takes the average Latina 22 months to earn the same amount that an average white man earns in 12 months.

Washington, D.C. – Representative Linda T. Sánchez , Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), sent the following letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell following the release of the Republican spending plan. The resolution ignores the dire need in Flint, Michigan, a low-income, minority-majority city.

September 23, 2016

Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell:

We are writing to you on behalf of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to express our deep concern about the lack of emergency funds in the proposed Republican continuing resolution to help address the Flint water crisis. It is unconscionable that the current package includes funding for other states facing natural disasters but ignores Flint, Michigan, a low-income, minority-majority city.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Second Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), led a letter to the House Appropriations Committee, urging them to strike a provision from the FY2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill that would require the Library of Congress to use the terms “aliens” and “illegal aliens” in its subject headings. In March, the Library of Congress decided to replace the term “aliens” in its subject headings with “noncitizens,” and to replace the term “illegal alien” with “non-citizens” and “unauthorized immigration.” The Tri-Caucus – comprised of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) – also signed the letter.