Immigration and Border Issues

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.

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.

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.

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.

Washington, D.C. - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus urges the House to oppose "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act" (H.R. 3003) and "Kate's Law" (H.R. 3004).

These two measures will undercut law enforcement's ability to keep communities safe, undermine Constitutional protections, and criminalize immigrants. The severe incarceration penalties in H.R. 3004 will swell the number of immigrants in prisons with no criminal convictions and tear families apart. H.R.

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.