Press Releases
Castro Statement on Governor Abbott’s Failed “Buoy Border”
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement following reports that over 100 buoys dislodged after heavy rains and floods in Texas: “More than 100 of Governor Abbott’s buoys broke loose during deadly floods in Texas. Buoys with sharp razors are now causing damage to neighborhoods and have shut down a bridge that transports thousands of vehicles a day. “Abbott’s 'buoy border' was a reckless idea from the very start and border communities remain … Continue Reading
July 16, 2026
Castro Leads 110 Democrats in Demanding Dilley Trailer Prison Be Shut Down
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) led a group of 111 Democratic House members in a nationwide call to end family detention and shut down the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas. In the letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the lawmakers highlight the brutality of family detention and the lasting trauma inflicted on children. The lawmakers outlined the conditions at the facility leading to lasting trauma, … Continue Reading
July 16, 2026
Castro, Booker Reintroduce Bicameral Bill to Expand Advanced Coursework Opportunities for Underrepresented Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the Advanced Coursework Equity Act, bicameral legislation that would create a federal grant program to help states and school districts increase the enrollment of underrepresented students in advanced coursework and academic programs. The Advanced Coursework Equity Act would allow eligible schools and school districts to receive up to $60 million to implement universal screening for … Continue Reading
July 15, 2026
Castro on Israel Funding: “Do Not Reward a Wrongdoer”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) spoke on the House floor in support of an amendment from Rep. Thomas Massie (KY-04) to block $3.3 billion in taxpayer funding for Israel’s military. Congressman Castro will vote in support of the amendment to H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027. View Congressman Castro’s remarks here. Remarks as delivered below: Madam speaker, Israel does not need, and quite … Continue Reading
July 15, 2026
Congressman Castro Demands Answers on the Death of Airman First Class Keon McDaniel at Lackland Airforce Base in San Antonio
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding answers on the June 16th death of Airman First Class Keon McDaniel. Airman McDaniel died during the influenza outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, following the Department of Defense’s April 2026 decision to make the annual influenza vaccine voluntary for servicemembers. “When tragedies like this occur, the American people and the Congress that … Continue Reading
July 14, 2026
Congressman Castro on ICE: “They've Engaged in Cold-Blooded Murder”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) to speak out against ICE’s brutality and the killings of 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, and of 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. View press conference clip here. Remarks as delivered below: I'm Joaquin Castro, and proud to represent San Antonio, Texas, here in the U.S. Congress. And want to say thank you to my colleagues in the … Continue Reading
July 08, 2026
Castro Statement on Fatal ICE Shooting of Houston Father
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement: “Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was a husband and father, living and working in Houston for 35 years. Yesterday, an ICE agent shot and killed him. “I join the family in demanding a full investigation and have urged ICE to release all body-camera and dash-camera footage, as well as any communications from agents before and after the shooting. “My prayers are with the family and the entire Houston community … Continue Reading
June 30, 2026
Castro, Houlahan, Cisneros Slam Pentagon for Lackland Flu Outbreak, Push for Flu Vaccine Requirement
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), and Congressman Gil Cisneros (CA-31) held a press conference to provide updates on the flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and to push the Pentagon to restore its vaccine mandate for all servicemembers. Reps. Castro, Houlahan, and Cisneros push Pentagon to fully restore its vaccine mandate. Watch livestream here. “The Air Force confirmed that trainee Keon McDaniel died … Continue Reading
June 24, 2026
Congressman Castro Calls for the Release and Reunification of Dad and 13-Year-Old Son in ICE Detention
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement calling for the release from ICE detention and reunification of 13-year-old Leonardo Santiago Soto Uribe and his dad Benjamin Lerma-Huipio: “Leonardo Santiago ‘Santi’ Soto Uribe should be enjoying his summer before starting 9th grade. Instead, ICE detained him and his father, Benjamin Lerma-Huipio, outside of San Antonio. ICE separated 13-year-old Santi from his father, who is being locked away at a … Continue Reading
June 24, 2026
Castro Update on Number of Flu Cases at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) released the following statement: “The Air Force confirmed with my office that the flu outbreak at the Air Force Lackland Base in San Antonio is getting worse. There are now 275 confirmed … Continue Reading
June 18, 2026
Castro Statement on Flu Outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio
Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement: "After Secretary Hegseth scrapped the military’s flu vaccine mandate, it was only a matter of time before an outbreak occurred. It was a reckless decision that put troops in harm’s way and undermined our military readiness. At the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, nearly 160 servicemembers are now ill. I am especially concerned by the tragic death of a trainee this past week. My office has requested the … Continue Reading
June 18, 2026
Congressman Castro Visits San Antonio Dad in ICE Detention, Provides Update on Conditions
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after visiting the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center to meet with San Antonio father Octavio Daniel Cabrera Valdez, other detained individuals, and to inspect conditions: “There are incredible abuses going on at ICE detention centers like the one I visited today in Karnes City, Texas. Most people locked away at Karnes have not committed a crime, came to the U.S. legally, and have done … Continue Reading
June 17, 2026
Castro Statement on U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, released the following statement on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed to by the United States and Iran: “The war against Iran was doomed from the start. President Donald Trump, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, launched this war without clear objectives and without making the case to the American people or the … Continue Reading
June 17, 2026
Castro Calls for the Release of San Antonio Dad in ICE Detention Center
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Ahead of his congressional oversight visit to the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center in Karnes, Texas, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement: "Octavio Daniel Cabrera Valdez was building a life for his family in San Antonio. He has an 8-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter who depend on him. "He was at work—providing for his children—when ICE took him away. Octavio has been held in an ICE detention facility since April. Because he was … Continue Reading
June 16, 2026
NEW DATA: Castro Sounds Alarm Over Deportation of Dreamers with No Criminal Record as DACA Turns 14
WASHINGTON, DC — This week, as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program celebrates its 14th anniversary, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) sounds the alarm over new ICE data revealing that 85 DACA recipients—none with a criminal record—have been deported since January 2025 under the Trump Administration. In March 2026, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL -08) sent a letter calling out the Department of … Continue Reading
June 13, 2026
Castro, Keating Demand Answers on Any U.S. Involvement in Ecuadorian Boat Strikes
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09), senior member of both the House Armed Services and House Foreign Affairs Committees, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, and Admiral Kevin Lundy demanding answers on any U.S. involvement in Ecuadorian boat strikes … Continue Reading
June 12, 2026
Castro, Van Hollen Lead 40+ Lawmakers in Demanding Transparency on U.S. Enforcement of Laws Regarding Aid to Israel
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 42 lawmakers in demanding that the State Department comply with U.S. law to provide transparency on how much Israel is spending on settlement activity. For over twenty years, U.S. law has required conditions on loan guarantees to Israel, limiting … Continue Reading
June 12, 2026
Castro Statement on San Antonio High School Student's Release from the Dilley Trailer Prison
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement: “Alejandro and his dad are back home where they belong. They were locked away at the Dilley trailer prison for nearly a month. They should have never been there in the first place—they are asylum seekers who did everything the right way. “Alejandro is just 15. He missed his last days as a sophomore at Churchill High School, where he played soccer. Thanks to the overwhelming support of his family, … Continue Reading
June 12, 2026
Castro Statement on San Antonio High School Student's Release from the Dilley Trailer Prison
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement: “Alejandro and his dad are back home where they belong. They were locked away at the Dilley trailer prison for nearly a month. They should have never been there in the first place—they are asylum seekers who did everything the right way. “Alejandro is just 15. He missed his last days as a sophomore at Churchill High School, where he played soccer. Thanks to the overwhelming support of his family, … Continue Reading
June 11, 2026
Castro, Stanton, Barragán Demand Transparency on DNA Collection of Detained Families at Dilley Detention Facility
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following a congressional oversight visit to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), and Nanette Barragán (CA-44) sent a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons demanding answers about the collection and use of DNA from families detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center. “During our visit, we learned that ICE … Continue Reading