Immigration and Border Issues

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."

Washington, D.C. – CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez released the following statement on the White House's announcement that it will be moving forward to seek a stay of the district court's preliminary injunction order.

"The White House's decision to move forward in seeking a stay of the district court's preliminary injunction order is the right thing to do. There are millions of DACA and DAPA eligible individuals who cannot continue living in the shadows and are ready to sign up for the President's immigration executive actions. Let us remember that the reason we are in this situation is because House Republicans continue to obstruct all action on comprehensive immigration reform."

Washington, D.C. – CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez released the following statement on the White House's announcement that it will be moving forward to seek a stay of the district court's preliminary injunction order.

"The White House's decision to move forward in seeking a stay of the district court's preliminary injunction order is the right thing to do. There are millions of DACA and DAPA eligible individuals who cannot continue living in the shadows and are ready to sign up for the President's immigration executive actions. Let us remember that the reason we are in this situation is because House Republicans continue to obstruct all action on comprehensive immigration reform."

Washington, D.C. – CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez released the following statement on the State of Texas v. United States of America preliminary ruling.

"The immigration executive actions announced last November were critically important and expected to provide administrative relief to 5 million families. These actions were announced amid continued House Republican efforts to block action on legislation that would reform our nation's broken immigration system.

The ruling before us doesn't define the final fate of the immigration executive actions that are so desperately needed. Every single president since President Ronald Reagan has used his executive authority on immigration, so there is a clear legal precedent that President Obama followed.

Washington, DC- Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) held a press conference on the upcoming implementation rollout of the President's immigration executive actions. The DACA expansion program is one of the major initiatives announced by President Obama last November, and enrollment for the program begins next Wednesday, February 18^th.

"The President's immigration executive actions will provide administrative relief to millions of people. The CHC played an important role in those executive actions and stands united with the President in the implementation of those programs. The Hispanic Caucus encourages eligible individuals to take advantage of the DACA expansion program and the DAPA program in May," said CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez.

A sample list of CHC Member efforts:

Washington, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Linda Sánchez released the following statement following today's vote on H.R. 240:

"The legislation panders to those in the right-wing of the Republican Party who are unhappy with President Obama's executive action on immigration. Today's bill attacks the most vulnerable in our society. Republicans are consciously targeting millions of families who work hard, contribute to our communities, and are just trying to give their children a chance at the American Dream. As a country, we are better than this. Shame on Republicans for attacking the Latino community yet again."