Immigration and Border Issues

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. – Following a trip to meet with deported veterans in Tijuana, Mexico, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham and CHC Leadership sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David J. Shulkin to request an urgent meeting.

As the Members stated in the letter, "We would like to discuss ways that the federal government and, specifically, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department can provide deported veterans living outside of the U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement on the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program:

"While the Trump Administration has left the DACA program in place for now, their enforcement actions and policy decisions continue to create fear and anxiety in immigrant communities. Their recent Interior Enforcement Executive Orders eliminated smart priorities and declared all of the 11 million undocumented immigrants a target for removal. Their announcement to keep DACA, while revoking DAPA and deporting family members is deceitful and is another effort to keep immigrant families feeling uncomfortable about their place in America.

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. – 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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement on President Trump's budget proposal:

"President Trump's budget is a clear indication that this Administration stands with corporations and not with working families who are trying get ahead. In the President's vision of the future, Hispanic families, children, and seniors will bear the brunt of this disastrous budget. Trump's budget wastes billions of dollars on a costly and ineffective border wall and deportation force while cutting essential programs that help Hispanic families climb the economic ladder.