Press Releases

Yesterday, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) was among the Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) that met with Secretary John Kelly of the Department of Homeland Security. In the closed door meeting, Sec. Kelly was questioned about the continuation of the DACA program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals); ICE arrests targeting the parents and family of children seeking refuge; detention and deportation of those with no criminal record and/or stays of deportation; the renewal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for numerous countries; and the deportation of U.S. veterans.

The following is a statement from Rep. Jimmy Gomez.

"Every day since the beginning of the Trump administration, immigrant families have been living in fear that their government is coming for them and their loved ones. Unfortunately, at yesterday’s meeting Secretary Kelly justified those fears. He made it clear that he is unsure about extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for families who have sought refuge in the U.S. while their countries recover. He questioned the legality of the DACA program and refused to commit to defending it from legal challenges; acknowledging the future of DREAMers and their families are in the fervent anti-immigrant hands of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He’s turned a deaf ear to the children who fear their parents could be deported at any given time.

I’m deeply concerned with the direction that Secretary Kelly and the Trump Administration are taking our country’s immigration policies. We must stay vigilant and watch developments on this very closely. My offices are in touch with immigrant rights groups and activists to make sure we are all on the same page to continue to fight for and protect all of the people of the 34th Congressional District.

We are a nation of immigrants, and I will fight to ensure we stay that way."

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