Immigration and Border Issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) recent enforcement activity and to news that Daniel Ramirez Medina, a young man with a work permit and deferred action granted under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative was apprehended in Seattle, Washington during an ICE enforcement activity.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham joined other members of Congress to send a letter demanding a meeting with U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement Acting Director Thomas D. Homan to discuss the impact of recent nationwide immigration raids in communities across the nation.

Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) was joined by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Rep. John Conyers (MI-13), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL-4), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40).

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement on a letter sent to the Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, about Israeli Prime Minister using Twitter on Saturday evening to praise President Trump's executive order authorizing construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border:

"We express our disappointment and deep concern with Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement. While Israel and the United States are steadfast partners in many areas, including security cooperation, the current debate within the United States over immigration and border security is beyond the scope of the U.S-Israel security relationship. Indeed, statements like Prime Minister Netanyahu's tweet are inflammatory and detrimental to U.S.-Mexico relations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham introduced the "Build Bridges Not Walls Act," which would prohibit the implementation of President Trump's executive order to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border

"The people who know the border the best, whether it's companies or lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, border communities, trade groups, economists, and law enforcement officials, all agree that building a wall is unnecessary, impractical, ineffective, and a complete waste of time and taxpayer money," said Rep. Lujan Grisham. "This bill protects taxpayers by stopping the funding for a wall that is not needed and from any other attempts by the President to fund similar orders."

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the leadership of the Congressional Quad-Caucus – which is composed of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) – issued statements condemning President Donald Trump's recent executive orders, which were directly targeted at the immigrant community. President Trump signed executive orders that enable the construction of a border wall, increase funding for detention centers on the border, cut federal funding to sanctuary cities and various other anti-immigrant actions. Quad-Caucus leaders issued the following statements:

CHC Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01):

Washington, D.C. – Representative Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), today released the following statement following the results of the 2016 election:

"This election yielded a lot of hurt and divisive rhetoric. The Latino community was scapegoated for political gain. We know there is fear and angst, especially in the undocumented immigrant community, but we are still with you. For the past 40 years, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has served as the voice and conscience of the Latino community on Capitol Hill. We will not give up on this work, and we will never give up on the community.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Linda T. Sánchez released the following statement on the fourth anniversary of the implementation of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. To date, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has approved temporary reprieve from deportation and a renewable two-year work permit for 819,512 DACA participants.

“Four years ago, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program changed the lives of so many young, talented, and hard-working immigrants. Imagine thousands of young people eager for the chance to work and contribute to our communities without living in fear of deportation. DACA is about making that dream a reality.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Members released the following statements on the U.S. v. Texas ruling. The 4-4 tie means that President Obama’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) cannot move forward for implementation.

Earlier today, Members of the CHC spoke outside the Supreme Court. You can catch their press conference remarks here.