Immigration and Border Issues
The Immigration and Border Issues Task Force provides a national voice and leadership with regard to immigration and border issues, both within the halls of Congress and on behalf of diverse communities across the United States.
Members:
Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, Co-Chair
Rep. Loretta Sanchez, Co-Chair
Rep. Joaquin Castro
Rep. Juan Vargas
Rep. Filemon Vela
Senator Robert Menendez
More on Immigration and Border Issues
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July 28, 2017
Washington, D.C. - On Friday, July 28th, Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez and 117 colleagues introduced the American Hope Act of 2017. Recent actions by State Attorneys General and the Trump Administration have put the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in peril. This bill would provide a permanent legislative solution for the more than 800,000 young people enrolled in DACA and put thousands of others on a path to earn permanent legal residency and eventual citizenship if they meet certain requirements.
An alliance made up of Members of House Democratic Leadership, the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus gathered for a press conference in support of Dreamers, DACA, and this critical legislation.
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July 24, 2017
Washington, D.C. - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus opposes the addition of funding for President Trump's border wall to an upcoming "minibus" appropriations package:
Republican Leadership has announced that they plan to add border wall funding to a minibus appropriations package that the House will be considering this week. The critical national security funding package will include the Defense, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Legislative Branch, and Energy & Water appropriations bills.
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July 17, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham and CHC Immigration and Border Issues Task Force Chair Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez sent a letter to Members of the Appropriations Committee calling on them to reject the proposed increases in funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S.
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July 14, 2017
Washington, D.C. – Before the final vote of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham delivered the following remarks as part of a Motion to Recommit (MTR). If adopted, the measure would have restored a bipartisan amendment that prevented Department of Defense dollars from being used to build President Trump's border wall. The amendment was not adopted in a straight party line vote:
Mr./Madam Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee.
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July 14, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the leadership of the CHC sent a letter to Senate Leadership urging them to oppose two anti-immigrant bills, No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (H.R. 3003) and Kate's Law (H.R. 3004), and to not consider them in the Senate.
As the Members stated in the letter, "We strongly urge the Senate to oppose consideration of these bills, which have broad opposition from hundreds of advocacy groups, local governments and, more tellingly, law-enforcement groups.
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July 12, 2017
Washington, D.C. - Washington, D.C. - Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement after Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee unveiled a bill that includes $1.6 billion in taxpayer funds for President Trump's border wall:
"The people who know the border the best, whether it's companies or lawmakers, border communities, trade groups, economists, and law enforcement officials, both Republicans and Democrats, all agree that building a wall is unnecessary, impractical, ineffective, and a complete waste of time and taxpayer money.
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July 11, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Leadership of the Congressional Quad-Caucus – which is composed of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), sent a letter to the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Reps.
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July 7, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Members of the CHC sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kelly asking for clarification and details about reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are targeting and criminally charging parents and sponsors of unaccompanied children.
As stated in the letter, "We applaud efforts to target, make arrests and bring down these [human smuggling] criminal organizations.
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July 5, 2017
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.
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June 29, 2017
Washington, D.C. – Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) issued the following statements in reaction to the House's passage of "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act" (H.R. 3003) and "Kate's Law" (H.R. 3004). Earlier today, CHC Members hosted a press conference to speak out against the bills. The bills now head to the Senate for consideration:
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01): "New Mexico communities will be less safe as a result of the President's attempt to punish all immigrants and their families, rather than focus on violent criminals who pose a real threat to public safety," Rep.