Jul 14, 2017
Press Release
The legislation scapegoats immigrants and advances Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the leadership of the CHC sent a letter to Senate Leadership urging them to oppose two anti-immigrant bills, No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (H.R. 3003) and Kate’s Law (H.R. 3004), and to not consider them in the Senate.
As the Members stated in the letter, “We strongly urge the Senate to oppose consideration of these bills, which have broad opposition from hundreds of advocacy groups, local governments and, more tellingly, law-enforcement groups. Both of these bills undermine Constitutional protections, criminalize the immigrant community and undercut law enforcement’s ability to keep our communities safe…We expect to face many more of these anti-immigrant proposals and we urge you to stand firmly with the CHC against these harmful anti-American proposals.”
In the letter, the Members cited specific contentions they have with each bill and added, “Instead of playing politics with these bills, the Senate should be working on solutions to address our broken immigration system. Not too long ago, the Senate was able to pass a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) bill that without doubt would have also passed in the House of Representatives had it not been for House Republicans blocking a vote on the bill. The CHC is dedicated to passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill and will continue working to find solutions to address our broken immigration system.”
The letter was signed by: Michelle Lujan Grisham, CHC Chairwoman; Joaquin Castro, CHC First Vice Chair; Ruben Gallego, CHC Second Vice Chair; Pete Aguilar, CHC Whip; Adriano Espaillat, CHC Freshman Representative; Luis V Gutiérrez, CHC Immigration and Border Issues Task Force Chair
COPY OF LETTER
July 14, 2017
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Charles Schumer
Democratic Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Schumer;
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which is composed of 31 Members of Congress, including two Senators, stands firmly opposed to any legislative efforts that scapegoat immigrants and only serve to advance President Trump’s anti-immigrant political agenda. Most recently, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed two anti-immigrant legislative bills, No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (H.R. 3003) and Kate’s Law (H.R. 3004). We strongly urge the Senate to oppose consideration of these bills, which have broad opposition from hundreds of advocacy groups, local governments and, more tellingly, law-enforcement groups. Both of these bills undermine Constitutional protections, criminalize the immigrant community and undercut law enforcement’s ability to keep our communities safe.
While President Trump has expressed support for these proposals to become law, it is clear that these bills are not smart policy and will harm law enforcement efforts to keep communities and localities safe. The severe incarceration penalties in H.R. 3004 will swell the number of immigrants in prisons with no criminal convictions and tear families apart. H.R. 3003 will compel states to use limited resources to act as federal immigration agents and strip federal funding for critical law enforcement and national security initiatives from localities that abide by the Fourth Amendment – both would violate the Tenth Amendment’s “commandeering” principle.
Instead of playing politics with these bills, the Senate should be working on solutions to address our broken immigration system. Not too long ago, the Senate was able to pass a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) bill that without doubt would have also passed in the House of Representatives had it not been for House Republicans blocking a vote on the bill. The CHC is dedicated to passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill and will continue working to find solutions to address our broken immigration system.
We strongly urge you to oppose consideration of any legislation that would threaten local law enforcement’s ability to keep communities safe and indiscriminately targets immigrant communities. We expect to face many more of these anti-immigrant proposals and we urge you to stand firmly with the CHC against these harmful anti-American proposals.
Sincerely,
# # #
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.
