Press Releases
Castro Statement on the Administration’s Plans to Withdraw from the Flores Settlement Agreement
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, made the following statement after the Trump Administration’s preparation to withdraw from the Flores Settlement Agreement and circumvent limits on the government’s ability to hold minors in immigration detention: “I am deeply concerned about the Trump Administration’s preparations … Continue Reading
September 06, 2018
Castro, Meadows Bipartisan Election Security Bill Passes House, Heads to Senate
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Intelligence, and Congressman Mark Meadows (NC-11), a member of the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Transportation and Infrastructure and Foreign Affairs, welcomed the unanimous passage of their bipartisan measure, the Global Electoral Exchange Act (H.R. 5274). This legislation would authorize the Secretary of State to administer exchange programs for electoral authorities … Continue Reading
September 06, 2018
ASEAN Co-Chairs to Myanmar: Commute Journalists Sentencing for Reporting on Rohingya Massacres
Bipartisan Members Urge Aung San Suu Kyi to Support Free and Independent Press, Principles of Democracy WASHINGTON—Founding co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on ASEAN and members of the House Foreign Affairs Committees Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) today urged Myanmar to commute the sentences of two Reuters journalists who have been sentenced to seven years of jail time for investigating the Rohingya massacres. In a letter to Aung San Suu Kyi, … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Castro, Wagner, Larsen Introduce Bipartisan Measure to Promote International Commerce
Measure Expands Small Business Development Centers into Southeast Asia, Recognizes Invaluable Role of Small Businesses in Economic Expansion WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Financial Services Committee; and Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02), a member of the House Transportation and … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Castro Announces $2M for Low and Zero Emissions Transit
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, announced $2 million of federal funding from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to VIA Metropolitan Transit for the purchase of 8 electric buses to replace diesel vehicles dedicated to downtown operations. “As public transportation continues to grow in large cities including San … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Castro Op-Ed in the Foreign Service Journal: “A Foreign Service for America”
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, authored an op-ed in the Foreign Service Journal making the case for a strengthened Foreign Service that maintains American engagement with our allies and promotes diplomacy and development in all corners of the world. A preview of the op-ed can be found below, with a full version … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Castro Statement on Anniversary of President Trump’s Decision to End DACA
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 issued the following statement recognizing the one-year anniversary of the Trump Administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: “It’s been one year since the Administration ended DACA, putting more than 822,000 recipients in legal … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Castro Announces Over $2.5M from the National Science Foundation to UTSA for Various Projects
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today announced over $2.5 million National Science Foundation (NSF) funding for the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA): “As San Antonio and cities across Texas continue to grow, we must ensure all our students can access research, development and education programs that that … Continue Reading
August 31, 2018
Castro Releases Podcast Episode on Consequences of NAFTA Renegotiations, U.S.-Latin America Policy
Seventh Episode of “Diplomatic Cable” Features Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Former Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. State Department Roberta Jacobson WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released a Diplomatic Cable episode on consequences of NAFTA renegotiations with Mexico … Continue Reading
August 10, 2018
Castro Releases Podcast Episode on Trump-Russia Investigation
Sixth Episode of “Diplomatic Cable” Features House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff (CA-28) WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, released a Diplomatic Cable episode on the investigation into the Trump campaign’s collusion with Russia in the 2016 presidential election: The episode is available on … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Castro Issues Congressional Inquiry Regarding Texas Car Accident Involving Female Immigrant Detainees
Castro Requests Explanation for Discrepancies in Responses Received, Highlights Continuing Concern of Immigrants in Government Custody 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, wrote a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Ronald D. Vitiello asking about the circumstances of a car accident … Continue Reading
August 06, 2018
CHC Leadership to Mexican Ambassador Gutiérrez: What is Mexico’s Policy for the Treatment of Individuals in the Country Seeking Asylum in the United States?
Castro Leads Letter to Gutiérrez Inquiring About the Treatment of Asylum-Seekers in Mexico by Mexican Officials WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), led a CHC leadership letter to Mexican Ambassador Gerónimo Gutiérrez requesting more information about the treatment of asylum-seekers by Mexican officials. The Members wrote: “As … Continue Reading
August 03, 2018
Castro Announces $189K for UTSA Bioengineering Research
WASHINGTON— Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, announced $189,918.00 for research into innovative technologies for human joint braces: “Current wearable rehabilitation and assistive devices are powerful and active, but can be bulky and have limited functionality for folks wearing them. I welcome the National Science Foundation … Continue Reading
July 30, 2018
Castro Leads Bipartisan Request to Secretary Mattis & Pompeo on U.S. Security Assistance for Cameroon
Members Requested More Information on Security Situation in Cameroon Following a Video Depicting Violations by Cameroonian Security Forces 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 led a group of 8 bipartisan lawmakers in asking the Departments of Defense and State for more information after a video depicted what … Continue Reading
July 27, 2018
Castro Statement on Administration's Failure to Meet Second Court-Ordered Family Reunification Deadline
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: "The Trump Administration has now missed two deadlines to reunite the migrant children with their loved ones as court-ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Dana Sabraw last month. This is contrary to what the Hispanic Caucus learned this week in our … Continue Reading
July 27, 2018
Castro Releases Podcast Episode on International Condemnation of Family Separation Policy, Violence in the Northern Triangle, and Infrastructure of Diplomacy in the Western Hemisphere
Fifth Episode of “Diplomatic Cable” Features the Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released a Diplomatic Cable episode on international condemnation of the Trump Administration’s family separation policy, violence and root causes of migration from … Continue Reading
July 25, 2018
House Foreign Affairs Democrats Urge Pompeo to Reunify Children with Deported Parents
WASHINGTON—Representatives Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; and Foreign Affairs Committee members Reps. Norma Torres (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Albio Sires (D-NJ), and Joaquin Castro (D-TX) today demanded that Secretary Pompeo ensure that U.S. embassies work to reunite families forcibly separated by the Trump Administration. On Monday, the Administration admitted that as many as 463 of these parents have been deported out of the United … Continue Reading
July 25, 2018
CHC to Sessions: Zero-Tolerance Policy Traumatizes Migrants, Contrary to American Values
Castro Leads CHC Meeting Request with Attorney General 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, led the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in requesting a meeting with Department of Justice Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the “zero-tolerance” immigration policy that seeks to prosecute all immigrants who cross the … Continue Reading
July 25, 2018
Castro Remarks on Tomorrow’s Family Reunification Deadline
- As Delivered - Click Here for Video - 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 remarks at a Congressional Hispanic Caucus press conference on the court-ordered deadline for the Trump Administration to reunite all children between ages five and 17 with their loved ones: “Hi, good morning. Thank you … Continue Reading
July 25, 2018
Reps Castro, Lieu and Jones Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Russian Attack on U.S. Officials
WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) introduced a resolution condemning Vladimir Putin’s attack on United States officials with Reps. Walter B. Jones (R-NC) and Joaquin Castro (D-TX). The bipartisan resolution underscores the importance of defending U.S. officials from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats and emphasizes the U.S.’s commitment to combating Russia’s harmful attacks on our democracy. “The false equivalence between Vladimir Putin’s baseless … Continue Reading