Press Releases
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Elect Castro Remarks Following Investigation of Jakelin Caal’s Death
—As Delivered—Click Here for Video— LORDSBURG, NEW MEXICO—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following remarks after visiting the Antelope Wells Port of Entry and the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station where Jakelin Caal entered the U.S. and was held in Customs and Border Protection Custody prior to her tragic death on December 8th: “…by having CBP agents positioned at ports of entry, and metering or disallowing certain … Continue Reading
December 14, 2018
NM, TX Lawmakers Demand Answers on Death of 7-Year-Old Migrant Child in CBP Custody
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas) and Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) wrote to leadership of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) demanding an immediate investigation into the tragic death of a 7-year-old girl from Guatemala who died on December 8, 2018, after being taken into custody with her father … Continue Reading
December 14, 2018
Senior House Democrats Send Letter to DHS Inspector General Demanding Answers in Tragedy of 7-Year-Old Girl Who Died in Customs and Border Protection Custody
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, led a letter signed by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland … Continue Reading
December 13, 2018
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Elect Castro Statement on Reports of Child Death in Border Patrol Custody
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, this evening released the following statement: “I am devastated by reports of a seven-year-old girl who had been taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection who died due to dehydration and exhaustion. I will be asking the Inspector General and Congress to conduct a full investigation into the conditions and circumstances that led to her death. “We can and must do better as a … Continue Reading
December 12, 2018
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman-Elect and Luján Question Trump Administration's Actions In Removing Latino Engagement Document Before Open Enrollment Period
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman-Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus joined Congressman Ben Ray Luján (NM-03) in sending a letter this week demanding an explanation from the Administration on reports that they had removed a document titled “Marketplace Outreach: Best Practices for Outreach to Latino Communities” from its Health Insurance Marketplace website. The removed PDF was a slide presentation intended as a training resource for assisters. It focused on the … Continue Reading
December 12, 2018
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Elect Castro Statement on Trump’s Shutdown Remarks
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman-Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), today made the following statement in response the President’s shutdown remarks: “Americans don’t want a border wall, nor do they want to see our government shutdown. We’ve offered bipartisan compromises that could pass both chambers. Instead of pursuing partisan promises, the President should stop undermining our country’s ability to perform vital functions and agree to the proposals … Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Opposes Public Charge Rule
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman-Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and 25 CHC members submitted a comment opposing the proposed rulemaking changes to the “public charge” rule. In a letter to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Policy and Strategy Chief Samantha Deshommes, the Members highlighted that redefining public charge would harm immigrant families, pit survival of families against the hope for … Continue Reading
December 07, 2018
Castro, Cummings, Thompson, Nadler Ask DHS OIG to Investigate Toddler Death Shortly After Release From a Texas Detention Center
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07), Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee; Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee; and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, today called on the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector … Continue Reading
December 01, 2018
Castro Statement on Passing of George H.W. Bush
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today made the following statement: “The world lost a true statesman last night with the passing of former President George Herbert Walker Bush. President Bush personified class, importance of family values, and above all a long commitment to public service on behalf of Texas and our … Continue Reading
November 30, 2018
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Selects Leadership Team for the 116th Congress, Rep. Joaquin Castro Elected as Chairman
WASHINGTON—Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) selected its leadership team for the 116th Congress. Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) will chair the CHC. Joining Congressman Castro on the leadership team will be Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) as First Vice Chair, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) as Second Vice Chair, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) as whip, and Congresswoman-Elect Veronica Escobar (TX-16) as Freshman Representative. “After two years of the … Continue Reading
November 30, 2018
Castro Statement on Reports of Continued Family Separation
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration is still separating families at the border: “The President’s zero-tolerance immigration policy cruelly tore children from their parents and ran contrary to our American values. I am deeply … Continue Reading
November 29, 2018
Castro Statement on Cohen Guilty Plea
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement: “Today’s guilty plea from Michael Cohen for lying to Congress about Moscow Trump Tower shows that his plea arrangement struck in August has indeed turned into cooperation. This news comes on top of Paul Manafort, former Trump Campaign Chairman, … Continue Reading
November 29, 2018
Castro Statement on Reports that Tornillo Workers Lack Background Checks
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following statement following press reports that more than 2,000 workers at Tornillo have not received background checks: “I am deeply disturbed by reports that nearly 2,000 workers on staff at Tornillo have not received federally mandated FBI fingerprint background … Continue Reading
November 29, 2018
Castro Welcomes Senate Committee Passage of Bill to Protect Foreign Service Officers
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today welcomed the passage of the Protecting Diplomats from Surveillance Through Consumer Devices Act (H.R. 4989) through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: “It’s critical we protect our frontline civilians who serve in the most dangerous corners of our world. This includes … Continue Reading
November 26, 2018
Congressional Hispanic Caucus First Vice-Chair Joaquin Castro Statement on the Border Situation
WASHINGTON--Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement: “For generations, Republican and Democratic Administration have maintained an orderly, humane asylum process that respects international law while protecting the sovereignty and security of the United States. Yet, the Trump Administration has … Continue Reading
November 26, 2018
Castro Op-Ed in the Nikkei Asian Review: “U.S.-China – Compete, Not Cheat”
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, authored an op-ed in the Nikkei Asian Review today on why the United States must compete, not cheat, with China. A preview of the op-ed can be found below, with a full version available here. “By initiating a trade war that has affected hundreds of billions of dollars in trade, and … Continue Reading
November 20, 2018
Castro Statement on Possibility of Adding Venezuela to State Sponsors of Terrorism List
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following statement: "We've seen Nicolás Maduro undermine Venezuelan democracy and create a regional economic and humanitarian catastrophe. It's clear the United States needs to hold him and other senior Venezuelan leaders responsible. But designating a county as a state … Continue Reading
November 15, 2018
Castro Statement on New Sanctions in Response to Murder of Jamal Khashoggi
WASHINGTON—Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement: “The sanctions announced today against 17 Saudi nationals, including close aides of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is a good first step in bringing justice in the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. We cannot continue giving the … Continue Reading
November 14, 2018
Castro Welcomes Passage of Bipartisan U.S.-Australia Space Cooperation Resolution
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today welcomed the passage of a bipartisan resolution he authored with Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21) that affirms United States-Australia space exploration, research and utilization cooperation (H.Res.1052). Specifically, the resolution recognizes the importance of Australia’s new space … Continue Reading
November 12, 2018
Castro Statement on Veterans Day
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement: “On Veterans Day, and every day, we must honor the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform, and remember the generations before them who defended and protected our ideals and freedoms. They continue to be models of patriotism and … Continue Reading