Immigration
Washington, DC — With just days left before a government shutdown, Republican lawmakers continue to insist a border wall is necessary for national security, citing a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statistic that "ten known terrorists a day" are identified or captured at the southern border.
Washington, DC — Today and Saturday, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) will be taking part in an oversight visit to immigrant detention facilities at the southern border. Rep. Chu will be joined on this delegation by Sens. Jeff Merkley (OR), Mazie Hirono (HI), and Tina Smith (MN). Rep. Beto O'Rourke (TX-16) will be joining on Saturday. The delegation will inspect family detention centers in Karnes City and Dilley, Texas; and the child detention center in Tornillo, Texas. The Tornillo detention facility is currently holding more than 2,000 children in a tent encampment in the desert.
Washington, DC — Over the weekend, following an order by President Trump to allow the military to use lethal force against migrants at our southern border, an incident occurred near the San Ysidro crossing where border patrol agents fired tear gas at unarmed women and children seeking to enter the country and request asylum as the law permits. President Trump temporarily ordered the crossing to be closed and has threatened to close the entire border. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) released the following statement:
Washington, DC — Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) issued the following statement on President Trump's plan to use an executive order to end the 14th Amendment's promise of birthright citizenship:
"With one statement, Donald Trump displayed the bigotry and the ignorance that have made his presidency so dangerous.
Washington, DC — Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) introduced H.R. 7052, a bill to prevent any federal funds from being used to implement President Trump's proposed "public charge" rule. The rule, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on September 22, 2018, greatly expands the list of programs that could be considered when an immigrant is applying for a green card.
Washington, DC — Contradicting years of federal policy, a proposed rule expected to be introduced by the Department of Homeland Security would make it difficult for many immigrants to come to the U.S. or receive green cards if they are considered likely to use benefits such as Medicaid, housing assistance, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), among others.
Washington, DC — On Friday, a federal judge ordered Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to be deposed for a lawsuit about how a question on citizenship was added to the 2020 Census. In March, at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing, Sec. Ross testified in response to a question from Rep. Chu that the Department of Justice "initiated" the request to add the question. But documents released last week show that the Commerce Department pushed the Department of Justice to request the question over their own objections. Rep. Chu released the following statement:
Washington D.C. - Today, the Trump Administration announced that it would be promulgating regulations to terminate the Flores Settlement, the agreement that ensures that the welfare of children is prioritized when they are in the custody of the federal government. The Flores Settlement ensures that children who are detained be placed in the least restrictive setting within three days of entering custody, and that the placements where children are sent be licensed by the state child welfare agency.
Washington D.C. – On Saturday, Reps. Judy Chu (CA-27), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Mark Takano (CA-41), and Raul Ruiz (CA-36) visited the David and Margaret Youth and Family Services Facility, an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-funded facility in Los Angeles County, which houses immigrant children who have been separated from their parents. Rep. Chu released the following statement: