Immigration and Border Issues

WASHINGTON— Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Members called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to remotely process bond payments through an electronic bond (eBond) system so that families can follow social distancing guidance when paying for a detained loved ones’ bond. The current system, which requires family members to pay bonds in-person in cash or via mailed check, causes delays in the release of detainees and risks exposing family members and Enforcement and Removal Office (ERO) personnel to the novel coronavirus. Allowing for expedited and immediate payment of cash bonds using the existing eBonds portal will help protect public health and safely reduce ICE detention numbers

WASHINGTON— Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) leaders called on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redford to take necessary measures to protect farmworkers and their families during this public health crisis. Throughout this public health crisis, there has not been a day when these essential workers have stopped showing up to work. At the same time, farmworkers often do not have the necessary resources or information, health benefits, or direct cash assistance as other US workers. As we mark the last day of Farmworker Awareness Week and Cesar Chavez Day, our government must work to address any ongoing and emerging needs farmworkers may have and ensure that farmworkers are not left behind as they continue to work through this public health crisis in order to guarantee food reaches American grocery stores.

WASHINGTON — Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), CHC members, and immigration experts will discuss why the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must immediately release non-priority and low-risk detainees, vulnerable immigrants, and migrant children from US custody, as federal detention facility conditions leave detainees extremely vulnerable to the novel coronavirus. ICE facilities have shown themselves to be ill-prepared to provide adequate medical care to vulnerable detainees and have had issues containing outbreaks. Further, ICE often has to rely on local medical facilities to treat ill detainees. The novel coronavirus is a significant threat on a far greater scale. ICE’s failure to reduce detention numbers and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 has a real possibility of creating a severe health crisis for detention centers and overwhelming local health care facilities.

WASHINGTON— Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Members called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield, MD to provide further information on the CDC’s Order that restricts the entry of migrants and asylum seekers into the United States as way to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Given the Trump Administration’s proven anti-immigrant record, many fear that DHS is using the CDC’s recent order as a way to deny our legal obligation to asylum seekers, including some unaccompanied migrant children. It is in inappropriate for the Trump Administration to use this public health crisis as a pretext to send hundreds of asylum seekers and children back to dangerous conditions, where they may face oppression, persecution and even death.

WASHINGTON— Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) issued the following statement on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act also known as the “CARES” Act, which marks the third coronavirus response bill passed by the Senate:

WASHINGTON— Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Members requested information from State Child Welfare Agencies to determine if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been using these agencies in border states to separate asylum-seeking mothers from their newborn infants, who are United States citizens. According to news reports, agencies have been asked to take custody of newborn babies after DHS attempted to detain their mothers or send them to Mexico under the “Remain in Mexico” policy as a deterrent to persuade other migrants to not enter the United States. In one case, a Honduran mother was almost detained and sent to Mexico while her newborn infant child continued to receive care in the intensive care unit. This troubling practice is not currently tracked as family separations by DHS. CHC’s letter to child welfare agencies is the first step in creating data and accountability for these previously unrecorded family separations.

WASHINGTON— Congressional leaders, led by CHC Chairman Castro and CHC Freshman Representative Escobar, called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf to meet with them to further discuss the establishment of the Ombudsman for Immigration Detention and appointment of a new ombudsman. The Fiscal Year 2020 funding omnibus provided $10 million for the creation of this new office, which will fulfill specific functions, ranging from establishing a redress process for misconduct at the Department of Homeland Security to making recommendations to improve detention facilities. The new office of the Ombudsman is especially critical given that the Trump Administration continues to expand detention of immigrants and face reports of inhumane conditions and misconduct within DHS facilities. In fiscal year 2020 thus far, 10 immigrants have died in ICE custody. The previous fiscal year in total included 8 deaths in ICE custody.

WASHINGTON— Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and CHC Immigration Task Force Chairwoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38) called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to prepare plans for managing the spread of COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, within DHS and HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facilities. The members also called on both departments to share plans for resource management, release of detainees, and treatment of individuals exhibiting symptoms.