Immigration and Border Issues

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) met with Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss policy issues important to the Latino community. The Secretary requested a meeting to hear firsthand from Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members about our priorities. Today's meeting took place on Capitol Hill in an official capacity.

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) joined seven of her fellow Democratic House Members – Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) – to recount a trip they took this week to visit two private family detention facilities in Texas used to detain mothers and children awaiting disposition of their asylum claims. The Members are among the 136 House Democrats who recently signed a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson calling for an end to family detention.

Washington, D.C. – CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez released the following statement today on behalf of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus:

"The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is outraged by Donald Trump's racist remarks on the millions of Mexicans living in the United States.

His comments were not only wrong but divisive and perpetuate hateful stereotypes toward the Latino community.

Latinos are an integral part of the American fabric.

We are lawyers, doctors, teachers, Members of Congress, and servicemen and women who sacrifice their lives in defense to our country.

It's this kind of incendiary rhetoric which can lead to acts of violence. The most recent shooting in Charleston, South Carolina and the fatal stabbing of an Ecuadorian immigrant in Suffolk County, New York are examples of the incendiary acts that can result from hateful speech.

Washington, DC – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Linda Sánchez released the following statement on the Fifth Circuit's denial of the President's emergency stay request. The Administration filed an emergency stay in February, following an injunction by Texas Federal Judge Andrew Hanen that halted the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program and the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This ruling means the programs cannot go into effect until the final lawsuit is settled later this year.

Washington, DC - Hoy, la Presidenta del Caucus Hispano del Congreso (CHC) Linda Sánchez hizo las siguientes declaraciones sobre el día en el que las solicitudes de acción diferida habrían de ver empezado para los padres de los estadounidenses y residentes legales permanentes, comúnmente conocido como DAPA:

"Este día que el proceso de solicitud DAPA habría haber comenzado, queremos recordarle a todas las familias que tengan cuidado con estafas de inmigración. Les urgimos a todos que tengan cuidado de notarios que puedan tratar de aprovecharse y beneficiarse injustamente de la situación actual. El Caucus sugiere que individuos utilicen al Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglés) como un recurso para ayudar evitar estafas y obtener la información adecuada.

Washington, DC – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Linda Sánchez released the following statement on the day the application period would have been opened for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, commonly referred to as DAPA:

"On this day that the DAPA application process would have begun, we want to remind all families to be careful of immigration scams. We urge individuals to be weary of notaries – or notarios – who may try to take advantage and profit unfairly from the current situation. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus advises eligible individuals to use United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a resource to help avoid scams and get proper information.

Washington, D.C. – CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez and the CHC Civil Rights Task Force released the following statements on the need to confirm Loretta Lynch to be the next U.S. Attorney General of the United States.

CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez (CA-38): "Loretta Lynch's confirmation is long overdue. Her confirmation has been unjustly stalled for five months because of her views on the President's immigration executive actions – actions that are critically important to the Latino community and that are removed from her qualifications to serve as Attorney General. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus looks forward to seeing her swift Senate confirmation and to having an ally that will champion civil rights and justice issues."

Washington, D.C. – CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez released the following statement on the seven-day Continuing Resolution (CR) for the Department of Homeland Security.

"House Republicans are unbelievable. With two hours left before a Department of Homeland Security shutdown, House Republicans left no option but to do another short-term funding bill. This is no way to govern and in just seven days, we will have to do this all over again. Our country's national security is at stake here and it is critical that the Department's operations are not disrupted."