Hispanic Caucus condemns Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship

In response to President Trump’s latest immigration executive orders, including one rescinding birthright citizenship, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is demanding their members be allowed input on legislation around the issue, citing the outsized impact such laws have on their communities.

“In the past, the issue of immigration has been discussed without our presence at the table. We intend to change that. We demand that we are at the table when it's being discussed because it impacts our communities disproportionately,” Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), chair of the CHC, said from the Capitol on Thursday.

"We cannot receive an item of which we have not been part of the discussion," he continued. "We demand to be at the table in any and all discussions that involve immigration."

Members of the caucus blasted Trump's order ending birthright citizenship as unconstitutional. Later on Thursday, a Washington judge temporarily blocked the order.

“I think some people need to just sit down and read the damn Constitution,” Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), the CHC whip, said. “Because, frankly, if you read it, there is just no question. The founders were crystal clear after debates about who can vote and who can be a citizen … and they simply said, ‘All persons.’ It's pretty simple, right? It's easier than any civics exam or government exam or, hell, it's probably easier than the citizenship exam that is administered to thousands of immigrants.”

Since taking office Monday, Trump has signed a multitude of executive orders aimed at shutting down immigration via the southern border and ramping up deportations. Trump has also called for “expedited removal,” a process that would allow the Trump administration to deport any migrants who have been in the U.S. for less than two years and without a court process.

Trump’s administration argued the move will allow officials to deport those with criminal records, but members of the CHC pushed back on this notion.

“The vast majority of undocumented immigrants are hardworking people who have paid taxes and contributed to American society, some for decades,” said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), CHC vice chair of diversity and inclusion.

He then pointed to Trump’s recent pardon of Jan. 6 rioters, arguing that if Trump cared about safety, violent insurrectionists would not be allowed back on the streets.

“He says he's targeting criminals, but he just removed the restrictions that stopped [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] from conducting raids on schools, on hospitals and in churches," Castro said. “I would ask you who he believes among those kids is a criminal sitting in a first-grade class? Who are the criminals that he's going after in the Catholic Church, in the Presbyterian Church, in the nondenominational churches? Who are those criminals?”

The caucus emphasized that immigrants help the nation’s economy and culture, and that targeting and deporting immigrants will exacerbate issues, including the filling of jobs in hospitals, agriculture and construction.

Members including Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) have proposed new legislation to address issues at the border, such as drug trafficking. His bill, Stop the Fentanyl at the Border Act, offers up a way he hopes Republicans and Democrats can work together.

“One of the things that the American public doesn't realize is that 90 percent of the drugs that come into this country are actually trafficked by American citizens through our ports of entry,” Vasquez said.

"I do believe that we have room to work with Republicans on smart investments on the border if they truly want to solve this problem,” he added.

But with Republicans and Democrats divided on how best to tackle the issue of immigration, the CHC on Thursday repeatedly emphasized that they are united with other members of the Democratic Party and plan to find ways to protect immigrants and their families.

“This is a caucus that has members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, members that are part of the Congressional Black Caucus, CAPAC, Blue Dogs, New Dems, Problem Solvers. We got everybody. This is a big tent caucus, but we stand together, and we're going to continue to stand together and take a stronger stand on this issue,” said Espaillat.

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