Immigration and Border Issues

WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Saturday, over 100 Democratic lawmakers sent a letter led by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to express their commitment to including a pathway to citizenship for essential workers, TPS holders, and Dreamers in the COVID-19 budget reconciliation package.

WASHINGTON—Today, President Joe Biden signed four executive actions to confront systemic racism and advance racial equity. The executive actions will direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to take necessary steps to redress racially discriminatory federal housing policies that have contributed to wealth inequality for generations. The executive actions will also end the Justice Department's use of private prisons, recommit the federal government to Tribal sovereignty, and will take steps to combat discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders that has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) released the following statement in reaction to the issuance:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) welcomed Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) to the CHC. Senator Padilla marks history in becoming the first Hispanic to serve California in the U.S. Senate. Though Hispanics comprise nearly 40 percent of California's population, the state has never been represented by a Hispanic in the United States Senate. Chairman Ruiz released the following statement as he welcomed Padilla to the CHC:

WASHINGTON — Today, January 20^th, 2021, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) released the following statement after two-thirds of CHC Members voted to endorse H.R. 335 – Legal exception necessary to appoint Lloyd J. Austin III as President-elect Biden's Secretary of Defense:

"Congressional Hispanic Caucus members are encouraged to support granting Secretary of Defense designate Lloyd J. Austin III the legal waiver necessary for him to be confirmed as President-elect Joe Biden's Secretary of Defense. Secretary-designate Austin has been retired from the military for more than four years, but an exemption from Congress is necessary to become Secretary of Defense for anyone who has been separated from active-duty military service for fewer than seven years.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, President Joe Biden fulfilled his commitment to address our immigration system by unveiling immigration executive actions and sending an immigration bill, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, to Congress on Day One. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) will lead efforts to pass immigration reform this Congress and ensure it reaches President Biden's desk. Immigration Taskforce Chair Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), both CHC members, will introduce President Biden's immigration proposal in the House and Senate, respectively. CHC Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) released the following statement in response to President Biden's immigration executive actions and prioritization of immigration reform:

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Immigration Task Force (Task Force), and Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D., Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), today announced the CHC Immigration Principles for the 117^th Congress. These principles will inform the work of the CHC Task Force as it continues to partner with President-elect Joe Biden on immigration reform initiatives that will restore our values as a nation that welcomes immigrants. Prior to releasing the principles, Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez, CHC Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36), and other members of the CHC met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss immigration as a priority under the Biden Administration with CHC leading the effort.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, 112 Democratic lawmakers sent a letter led by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) to President-elect Joe Biden to express their commitment to addressing immigration reform. The CHC and Democratic lawmakers stand ready to build a more humane and fair immigration system that permanently protects Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status-holders, provides a stable labor force to fuel economic growth, and reunites parents and their children separated at our southern border.

"The time to act on immigration reform is now. Our immigration system was broken before President Trump took office, but his administration advanced changes that eroded what was left of our system. These changes resulted in family separations, inhumane detention conditions that took the lives of migrant children, and discrimination against immigrants based on race,

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) released the following statement on the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General report on the Trump Administration's zero tolerance policy: