- 6/5/2025
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus holds a press briefing to demand oversight of ICE facilities.
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00:00Good morning everyone. Thank you all for being here. This is an important press conference. I
00:18want to thank Congresswoman Silvia Garcia, tremendous leader in the Congressional Hispanic
00:25Caucus for putting this together. As you know the Congressional Hispanic Caucus as
00:33well as other members of the House of Representatives are deeply concerned
00:38about detention centers and how they are housing folks that may have work
00:47department. Individuals that are getting swiftly picked up as they make an
00:53appointment with their ICE officers or the courts. So these are folks that are
00:59compliant with what they agreed to do. They want to stay on the straight and
01:06narrow. They want to make sure that they were within the parameters of the law so
01:10they agreed to periodically visit ICE officers or the courtroom and what's
01:17happening is they're getting handcuffed and sent to a detention center and ripped
01:23away from their families. Both myself and Congresswoman Nidia Velazquez visited one of
01:31these detention centers and we found that many of the people that were there that
01:40have been arrested and detained are parents and spouses to US citizen children and US
01:51citizen spouses. That in fact many of them were compliant with these appointments in a
02:00courtroom or in one of the ICE offices when they got stopped and detained. That even some of them
02:08have asked to be deported but these privately run prisons are keeping them for an
02:15extended period of time. Some of them bounced around from detention center to
02:21detention center across the country while they asked to be deported back to their
02:26home nation. They're unable to do that. So this is a crisis. A crisis where we must determine
02:37whether these centers are motivated by the profit margins that they make and whether the due process is
02:47being dramatically and vulgarly violated. Where families of mixed-status families of one
02:56spouse is undocumented with a citizen spouse and citizen children are being ripped apart, weakening our nation. So this is the state of affairs in America. As we speak to you right now, there is fear out there and what will happen
03:03is that the word will get out. Don't report because if you try to comply with the rules and regulations you will be penalized, you will be picked up and deported and once that happens it will come back.
03:10With the excuse that these folks are violating the law. So I say Cash 22
03:18in America. In America, as we speak to you right now, there is fear out there and what will happen is that the word will get out. Don't report because if you try to comply with the rules and regulations you will be penalized, you will be picked up and deported and once that happens it will come back with the excuse that these folks are violating the law.
03:37So I say Cash 22 on the one hand comply, come to court, come and visit your ICE office. On the other hand, when you do, you come and get arrested so you won't go and then you're in violation of the law. It's entrapment, I think. And so we will fight back. We will continue to hold these centers accountable. It is our jurisdiction to have oversight over them.
04:06And we have a tremendous group of members of Congress. And by the way, the Louisiana system is particularly egregious. And there's litigation going on right now as we speak challenging the humanity of it. So with that I leave you with Representative Sylvia Garcia from Houston, Texas.
04:33Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you all for joining us today. And thank you to all my colleagues for here standing strong, standing strong to ensure that we as members of Congress continue and keep our oversight responsibilities and continue to visit these detention centers so that we can ensure that they're running properly, that they're not mistreating people, and that they're following the rules of the law.
05:01Journalists in this room know how important it is to shine a light where others would rather keep the truth hidden. That's your jobs. That's why I take my role in Congressional Oversight so seriously.
05:14During the district work period, CHC members and House Democrats didn't take a break. We went out into our communities and detention facilities to see what's happening to people in ICE custody. This administration has shown an abject contempt for the Constitution.
05:33They've twisted the Department of Homeland Security into a secret police force to terrorize immigrants, and in many cases, U.S. citizens as well. They're wearing masks and ambushing people. Republicans told the American people that immigration enforcement would target dangerous individuals.
05:54They're rapists. They're rapists. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They're murderers. They
06:25That's not making the front page
06:28That's why these oversight and excuse me investigations are so important
06:32Last week I visited a Houston contract facility
06:36One of the privately owned is as the chairman put it and met with the operators
06:42And a vice representative we were able to tour the facility. We didn't get much pushback
06:48They respected that I was there unannounced
06:51And we visit we toured it. We saw their medical facilities. We saw a pharmacy
06:56We saw family visitations happening in real time
06:59But the work is not over this was one of more than a hundred and fifty ice facilities currently in use and that number is going up by the day
07:10There are nearly 50,000 people in detention and Texas has more than 12,000 of them
07:17Democrats will crisscross the country
07:19Inspection facilities demanding answers and making sure that we use the powers of oversight to protect the rights of all
07:27But that again this is not happening at the moment what is happening in my view is just sinister cruel and inhumane
07:35Of the 800 detainees at the facility the day I was there I asked the so-called warden
07:41Uh about how many of them and I looked at him y'all and just said look you're a texan
07:47I'm a texan we know what a felony is we know what a heinous crime is
07:51About all of these 800 people about how many would fit that category
07:56And at first he says remember we don't keep track of that
07:58I said well, I'm sure you do I said just guess I said just tell me what's your guess you're the warden
08:03He said oh, I would say about 10 10 out of 800
08:09Are the people that that convict in the in the White House talked about during his campaign
08:15That he would go after the heinous murderers and rapids and killers
08:19But maybe 10 or in this facility of 800 because there are the people there are exactly the people that the chairman talked about
08:29Their parents their spouses their workers they're contributing to our country
08:34This administration is running up far too many people who have come here legally who have protections
08:41And even some US citizens including citizen children
08:45They're acting like the Constitution just doesn't apply to them
08:49You're talking about taking away habeas corpus
08:52And I can tell you as a former judge I'm offended
08:55By what is coming out of the White House
08:57And I can tell you what they're planning to do they cannot do under the Constitution
09:02I tell people all the time
09:04Democracy is a gift we pass from one generation to the next
09:09But it is not guaranteed
09:11It is frail and it will only survive if we fight for it
09:16So this is not just about immigrants
09:18This is about the rule of law
09:20This is about our democracy
09:22This is about whether your government can kidnap a child from a bus stop
09:27Because of their skin color
09:28And send them to a prison
09:30Because really that's what they are
09:32Without going to court
09:34Without a lawyer
09:35And without any recourse whatsoever
09:37And to the press
09:39I hope you all stay on this
09:41Keep digging
09:42Keep reporting
09:43Because this caucus
09:45These Democrats
09:46These people behind me
09:47Are here and committed to this fight
09:50And we will continue to fight
09:52And we will continue our oversight duties
09:54No matter who says what
09:57Thank you
09:57I yield now to my colleague from New York
10:00Mika Velazquez
10:01Good morning everyone
10:07And Chairman Espaya and all my colleagues
10:11Thank you for being here
10:12Thank you for visiting centers
10:15And putting a human face into this issue
10:21As the chairman said
10:23He and I visited the ICE detention center
10:27In Elizabeth, New Jersey
10:28And what I saw was heartbreaking
10:32We met people who have lived here for years
10:35Who have families
10:37And who have built lives in their communities
10:40Now suddenly uprooted
10:44Some have been held for months
10:47With no end in sight
10:49No clear timeline
10:51No answers
10:52And no way forward
10:54Some of the people we met
10:56Were detained
10:57After showing up
10:59For routine check-ins
11:00They followed the rules
11:02And were taken away
11:04Anyway
11:06What we and our colleagues witnessed
11:10Was a system being used
11:12To punish people simply
11:15For being immigrants
11:16And we all know that
11:19Cruelty is the point
11:23For this president
11:24And we saw a private prison system
11:29Profiting off that mystery
11:32Making money hand over fees
11:35We asked
11:36And we were given information
11:39By the detainees
11:42Some of them
11:43Who already asked to be deported
11:47One, a Russian woman
11:50Who asked to be deported
11:52A year ago
11:53When I asked the warden
11:55Why?
11:56Why is she still here?
11:58Does she voluntarily want to be deported?
12:02No answer
12:05Not concrete information
12:08Then I said
12:09Someone is making money
12:11Out of the fact
12:14That she is staying here
12:16So all these private contractors
12:18Are profiting
12:20From the pain and suffering
12:23Of people
12:24That comply with the law
12:27And the rules
12:28That's what is happening
12:30Now the next step
12:32Is to check
12:33How much contributions
12:35Are some people getting
12:38Out of these contractors
12:39The people we met
12:42Were not violent felons
12:45Just more evidence
12:48That Tom was lying
12:49When he said
12:50He was only going after criminals
12:53He's going after immigrants
12:56Full stop
12:57Mothers
12:59Union workers
13:00Green card holders
13:02People who have lived here for decades
13:05People with legal protections
13:07Who are still being disappeared
13:09By this administration
13:11This is what happens
13:13When a president decides
13:15The rules do not apply to him
13:19When due process
13:21Is treated as a nuance
13:23When people are treated
13:25Like they are disposable
13:27We have seen people
13:29Deported to countries
13:30Where their lives
13:32Are in danger
13:33Legal protections
13:35Ignored
13:36Court orders
13:38Defied
13:39And billions
13:40In taxpayer dollars
13:41Funneled
13:42To private detention centers
13:44With no real oversight
13:47And we are here to say
13:49Hell yes
13:51We will be conducting
13:53Oversight
13:54Because that is
13:56Our constitutional responsibility
13:58Hear me loud and clear
14:01Thank you
14:02And next
14:05We'll have
14:06Thank you so much
14:11Representative Velasquez
14:12Thank you Chairman Espaya
14:13For your leadership
14:14Of the Hispanic Caucus
14:16Also to my colleague
14:17Sylvia Garcia
14:18For putting this together
14:19We miss her
14:21On the Judiciary Committee
14:22Where she served so capably
14:23On the Immigration Subcommittee
14:25Thank you also to Luke Correa
14:27Who also is on the Immigration Subcommittee
14:29As ranking member
14:30Of the Immigration Subcommittee
14:32I want to thank
14:33All my colleagues
14:34Who exercised
14:35Our constitutional authority
14:37And responsibility
14:38To conduct unannounced visits
14:41To ICE detention centers
14:42Over this last
14:43In district work period
14:45As the Trump administration
14:47Ramps up
14:48Its mass deportation plan
14:49Sending masked men
14:51To snatch, kidnap, and disappear
14:54Immigrants of all legal statuses
14:56Across the country
14:57It is critically important
14:59That we members of Congress
15:01Continue to investigate
15:02What are supposed to be
15:05Civil detention centers
15:06But instead operate
15:08As private
15:09For-profit prisons
15:11With substandard medical care
15:13And they make billions of dollars
15:16As Congresswoman Velasquez said
15:18In contracts from this administration
15:20Detaining people
15:22Of all legal statuses
15:24Including legal permanent residents
15:26Spouses of U.S. citizens
15:27And people who have been living
15:29In this country
15:30For more than a decade
15:31Today in America
15:32We spend $3.4 billion
15:36In U.S. taxpayer money
15:39On immigration
15:40Quote detention centers
15:42That are nothing more
15:43Than prisons
15:43And they make
15:45As I said
15:45Enormous profits
15:46All paid for by taxpayers
15:48Just contrast that
15:49With only $840 million
15:51That we spend
15:53On the immigration
15:54Judicial system
15:55The ability to actually
15:56Process people
15:57And have people get
15:58What they need
16:00In the courts
16:01We are making it
16:03Profitable
16:04To detain immigrants
16:05Most of whom
16:07Are simply waiting
16:08For a bond hearing
16:09That's why they're in there
16:10Not because they've
16:11Been convicted of any crime
16:13Not because
16:13There's anything other than
16:15Just waiting
16:16For a bond hearing
16:17And so it's profitable
16:19To detain people
16:20Even when
16:21It's illegal
16:22It's unconstitutional
16:23There's no charge
16:24These detention centers
16:26Make money
16:26Over and over again
16:28We in Congress
16:30Intend to hold
16:31This administration
16:31And these for-profit
16:32Prison companies
16:33Accountable
16:34And we will not
16:35Be detained
16:36Deterred
16:37Or silenced
16:38In our responsibility
16:39And our authority
16:40To do so
16:41As a long-time
16:43Immigrant rights leader
16:44Even before I came
16:45To Congress
16:45The organization
16:46That I ran
16:47Did the first ever
16:48Human rights abuses
16:49Report on the
16:51GEO-run
16:51Northwest detention center
16:53In Tacoma
16:55And last week
16:56With my colleagues
16:57Representatives Randall
16:59And Representative Dexter
17:00We paid an unannounced
17:02Visit there
17:03Despite being delayed
17:04For an hour
17:05In entering the facility
17:07Which was completely needless
17:08And we later
17:09Heard an apology
17:10And being denied
17:12The ability to speak
17:13To all the detainees
17:14That were there
17:15We were able to speak
17:16To two people
17:17Who I showed up
17:19With privacy waivers
17:20For them
17:20The first woman
17:22Has been in the country
17:22For 20 years
17:23She was swept up
17:25In a raid
17:25At the workplace
17:26And she was detained
17:28Less than a week
17:29Before she was going
17:30To get married
17:31To a U.S. citizen
17:32The other person
17:33Was a man
17:34Who has been in this country
17:36For 31 years
17:37As a legal
17:38Permanent resident
17:39He's a proud member
17:42Of the machinist union
17:43And he's the primary provider
17:46For his U.S. citizen wife
17:48And his U.S. citizen children
17:51These are not
17:53The so-called
17:54Worst of the worst
17:55That Trump kept saying
17:56He was going to go after
17:57These are simply people
17:59Who love this country
18:01Who have been in this country
18:03For decades
18:04Who are married
18:05To U.S. citizens
18:06And have U.S. citizen children
18:08And do not understand
18:10Why the country they love
18:11Would be doing this to them
18:12I think
18:13I think we all believe
18:15That if Americans knew
18:16Who was being imprisoned
18:17In these for-profit prisons
18:20They would be offended
18:21That their taxpayer dollars
18:23Are being spent on this
18:25And they would understand
18:26That if this administration
18:28Can do this to people
18:30Who have done no wrong
18:32Who are here with legal status
18:33Avoid due process
18:35Completely undermine
18:37All the protections
18:38That are built into our constitution
18:39They can do that to anyone
18:41And that is why
18:42It is so important
18:44That we continue
18:45To shine a light on this
18:46That we call it out
18:47And that we refuse
18:49To allow the Trump administration
18:51To get away
18:52With what they are doing
18:53And with that
18:55It's my great honor
18:56To introduce
18:58A tremendous representative
18:59From Louisiana
19:00One of the places
19:01We see a lot of immigrants
19:02Shipped over to us
19:04Representative Troy Carter
19:05Thank you
19:06Thank you Representative
19:08Jayapal
19:09And a huge thanks
19:10To the leadership
19:11And all of my
19:12Colleagues behind me
19:13I want to thank you all
19:16For being here
19:16Particularly the press
19:17Because we depend on you
19:19To transcend the lies
19:22To advance the truth
19:24And to dig a little deeper
19:25And ask the question
19:27Why?
19:30Why?
19:32I stood alongside
19:33A powerful
19:34Principled
19:34Congressional delegation
19:36That I led
19:37In my home state
19:38Of Louisiana
19:39It was by Cameron
19:40It was Senator Markey
19:43Congresswoman Presley
19:44Congresswoman McGovern
19:45And Congressman Thompson
19:47As we visited
19:49ICE detention centers
19:50In Gina and Brazil
19:51In Louisiana
19:52What we saw
19:54Was disturbing
19:54What we heard
19:56Was unacceptable
19:57We met with
19:59Several individuals
20:01That were being detained
20:02We met with
20:03Wendy Brio
20:04A New Orleans
20:06Area mother
20:07Of three
20:08From my district
20:09Detained
20:10After ICE
20:12Asked her to come in
20:13For her routine
20:14Checkup
20:15Ms. Brito
20:17Is a volunteer
20:18In her
20:20Children's classroom
20:21She's been
20:23In the United States
20:24For 17 years
20:26She's married
20:27To an American citizen
20:28All of her children
20:30Were born
20:31In the state
20:32Of Louisiana
20:33Ms. Brito
20:35Is a model
20:36Individual
20:37Who shows up
20:38She volunteers
20:39In the school
20:39She is an example
20:41Of someone
20:42Doing the right thing
20:44She was going in
20:45For her regular
20:46I underscore
20:47Regular checkup
20:49When she was
20:50Detained
20:51She was not told
20:53Why she was being detained
20:54She was not afforded
20:55The ability
20:56To have counsel
20:57She was not given
20:58Due process
20:59How could this
21:00Possibly be right
21:01In America
21:02How could this
21:04Possibly
21:05Be right
21:06The fifth amendment
21:07Rights were violated
21:09This is not about
21:11Immigration
21:12Enforcement
21:14This is about
21:15Targeted cruelty
21:18This is about
21:20The trump administration
21:21Using government
21:22And its power
21:24To silence dissent
21:25Intimidate communities
21:27And chip away
21:29At the very foundation
21:31Of our constitution
21:33This has to mean
21:36Something
21:36To everyone
21:38Republicans
21:39And Democrats
21:40Have to be
21:41Concerned
21:42When our
21:42Democracy
21:43And the rights
21:45That we all
21:45Are afforded
21:46Are chipped away
21:48Unilaterally
21:49By one individual
21:52Yeah
21:54Should all be scared
21:55Republicans
21:57Democrats
21:58Independents
21:59And the like
21:59Because if it
22:00Happens to them
22:01It could happen
22:01To you
22:02It could happen
22:02To us
22:03We gotta talk
22:05About this
22:05We gotta turn
22:06The lights on
22:07And let me be
22:09Clear for those
22:09Who might
22:10Misunderstand
22:11Or choose
22:12To misinterpret
22:13No one
22:15Should be thrown
22:16Into a federal
22:17Custody
22:17For simply
22:18Speaking
22:18Their mind
22:20No matter
22:21Should
22:22No one
22:23Should disappear
22:24From their family
22:24Without cause
22:25No one
22:26Should be punished
22:27For writing
22:28In their school
22:29Newspaper
22:29No one
22:30Should be challenged
22:32Because you
22:32Disagree with
22:33What they say
22:34Listen
22:34Our free speech
22:37Is not built
22:38On only
22:39Protecting
22:40Speech that we like
22:42In fact
22:43It is protected
22:44Against those things
22:45Even we grossly
22:47Dislike
22:48That's not the point
22:50The framers
22:51Of the constitution
22:52Were very clear
22:53We don't want
22:54Tyranny
22:54We don't want
22:55A king
22:55We want a democracy
22:57Where you're free
22:58To challenge
22:59Your leaders
23:00To challenge
23:02Their policies
23:03To speak freely
23:04Without fear
23:05Of persecution
23:06This president
23:08Clearly doesn't
23:09Like that
23:09And we're seeing it
23:12Acted out
23:13Every single day
23:14These abuses
23:16Demand
23:17Transparency
23:18They demand
23:19Accountability
23:20Congressional oversight
23:23And we're going
23:24To do just that
23:25We won't stop
23:26Fighting
23:26For the windings
23:28Of the world
23:28We won't stop
23:29Fighting for the
23:30Individuals of the world
23:30Who are being
23:31Persecuted
23:32For no crime
23:33When we visited
23:35Louisiana
23:35One of the things
23:36That was most telling
23:36Is that
23:37None of these individuals
23:39That we spoke to
23:39Were being held
23:42For a crime
23:42Many of which
23:46As my colleagues
23:46Have just said
23:47Offered to
23:48Just send me home
23:50And they wouldn't
23:52It's because
23:55It's a for profit
23:56Entity
23:56Louisiana is
23:58Different in most
23:58Because we are
24:01Above the 72 hour
24:02Frame
24:02Most of the
24:04Centers across
24:05The country
24:05Are required
24:06To release them
24:07After a short
24:08Period
24:08In Louisiana
24:09You can keep
24:10Longer
24:11Hence you see
24:13People go from
24:13Center to center
24:14To center
24:14Why?
24:15Because they're
24:15Timed out
24:16They send them
24:16To another center
24:17They're timed out
24:18They send them
24:18To another center
24:19Because they're
24:21Making money
24:22Because as long
24:24As there's a body
24:24In the cot
24:25There's a check
24:27In the bank
24:28We cannot
24:31Allow this
24:32Gross
24:33Miscarriage
24:34Of justice
24:35To go on
24:36We cannot
24:38Allow them
24:39To continue
24:39To profit
24:40From an
24:41Illegal action
24:42From an
24:42Unconstitutional
24:43Action
24:43From an action
24:44That ignores
24:45The rule of law
24:46That's why
24:47We're here today
24:48And that's why
24:50We aren't going
24:50Anywhere
24:51We're going to
24:52Continue to stand
24:53We won't stop
24:54Fighting for every
24:54Person caught
24:55In this system
24:56Without a voice
24:57And we in
24:58Congress
24:58Must uphold
24:59The values
25:00Of our
25:00Founding fathers
25:01And the rights
25:01Of all people
25:02In the United States
25:03Regardless of whether
25:05We agree
25:06With what they say
25:08Or not
25:08None of us
25:09Support hate speech
25:10Anti-semitism
25:11Or hate violence
25:12Of any sort
25:13Let's be clear
25:14None of us
25:16Are supporting
25:16Anyone who incites
25:18Violence
25:18Or anti-semitic
25:20Or anti-gay
25:21Or anti-black
25:22Or anti-Asian
25:23Or anti-Hispanic
25:23Or anti-anything
25:25But we're not
25:28Going to sit back
25:28Idly by
25:29And shirk
25:30Our responsibility
25:30As people
25:31With oversight
25:32To check
25:33And make sure
25:34Our constitution
25:35And integral
25:36Vigual rights
25:37Are being
25:38Upheld
25:39To the highest
25:40Extent of the law
25:41I thank you
25:43For being here
25:43Next I will
25:44Bring up
25:44The esteemed member
25:45Emily Randall
25:46For comments
25:47Thank you
25:52It was my second
25:55Visit to
25:57Northwest Detention
25:57Center in my
25:58District this last
26:00Week with
26:01Congressman Jackal
26:02And Congressman Dexter
26:03And I was so
26:03Grateful that they
26:04Made the time
26:05To come so that
26:07We could present
26:08A united front
26:09And show
26:10Members of our
26:11Community
26:12And our
26:13Neighbors
26:13Within the walls
26:14Of the Northwest
26:15Detention Center
26:16That we were
26:17Watching
26:17That we were
26:18There for them
26:19That we were
26:20Listening
26:20And that we
26:21Wanted to fight
26:22For a better
26:23Immigration system
26:24For all of us
26:25You heard two
26:28Of the stories
26:29Of the individuals
26:30We spoke with
26:31And just the day
26:35Before we visited
26:36Another legal
26:38Permanent resident
26:38A green card
26:39Holder
26:40Auntie Lynn
26:41An SCIU
26:42Worker from
26:43University of
26:44Washington
26:44Was released
26:45After being
26:46Held for
26:47Three months
26:48For three months
26:50In the Northwest
26:50Detention Center
26:51As a legal
26:53Permanent resident
26:54And that
26:57Her release
26:58Gave hope
26:59To one of the
27:01Detainees that we
27:02Spoke with
27:02Who's also a
27:03Legal permanent
27:03Resident
27:04Who's getting
27:05Support from an
27:05Organization
27:06That had helped
27:07Etie Lynn
27:08But three months
27:11To hold
27:12Someone who
27:13Has proven
27:16That they
27:17Belong in this
27:18Country
27:18Who has shown
27:19Up to renew
27:21Their green card
27:22Their legal
27:22Permanent resident
27:23Status
27:24Multiple times
27:25Over the course
27:25Of their life
27:26Without incident
27:27To be snatched
27:29Off the street
27:30In front of your
27:31House on the
27:32Way to work
27:32Or from the
27:33Airport
27:33And be held
27:34Is unconscionable
27:38And unconstitutional
27:39My neighbors
27:40In Tacoma
27:42And around the
27:42District
27:43Have long
27:44Protested
27:45Outside the
27:46Fence line
27:47Of the Northwest
27:48Detention Center
27:48And we have
27:49Incredible organizations
27:50Like One America
27:52Who accompanied us
27:53And La Resistencia
27:55An organization
27:55That works with
27:56Families of those
27:57Detained
27:57And my community
27:59Has been crying
28:00For change
28:01This administration
28:04Wants us to believe
28:05That they are
28:07Arresting and
28:09Rounding up
28:09The worst of the
28:10Worst
28:10And you have
28:11Heard from all
28:11Of my colleagues
28:12That that is
28:13Simply not true
28:14There are our
28:15Neighbors
28:16Who are hard
28:16Working
28:17Community members
28:18Who are
28:19Contributing to
28:19Our society
28:20Who are
28:21Building our
28:22Economy
28:22Who are raising
28:23American citizens
28:24Who just want
28:27To build
28:27A strong life
28:28And a strong
28:28Future
28:29But this system
28:31Is using immigrants
28:33As a distraction
28:34As a scapegoat
28:35And as a tool
28:37To divide
28:38Our country
28:38And this Pride
28:41Month
28:41I have been
28:43Thinking a lot
28:44About the
28:45Intersectional fight
28:46That we are in
28:46The work
28:48To protect
28:49The most
28:49Marginalized
28:50Our immigrants
28:51LGBTQ immigrants
28:53Communities
28:54Who are easily
28:55Pushed aside
28:56And who this
28:58Administration
28:58Are over and
29:00Over using
29:01As fodder
29:02In their war
29:03To consolidate
29:03Power
29:04And control
29:06And we will
29:07Not stand for it
29:08That's why we
29:09Stand before you
29:09Today
29:10And we will
29:10Continue
29:11To show up
29:12At detention
29:13Centers
29:14And at
29:15Protests
29:16And pride
29:17Parades
29:17And every
29:20Opportunity
29:20We have
29:21In district
29:22And around
29:23The country
29:23To stand
29:25With our
29:25Immigrant
29:26Neighbors
29:26And to
29:27Fight for
29:28A better
29:28System
29:29A system
29:30That invests
29:30Money
29:31Not in
29:31Locking people
29:32Up
29:32But in
29:33Processing
29:33In ensuring
29:34That we have
29:35An immigration
29:36System that is
29:36Humane
29:37And effective
29:38And doesn't
29:40Create these
29:40Long delays
29:41And allows us
29:42To build
29:43The America
29:44In whose
29:46Promise we
29:46Believe
29:47I'm honored
29:49To be
29:50A member
29:51Of the
29:51Congressional
29:51Hispanic
29:52Caucus
29:52And to
29:53Serve alongside
29:54Long time
29:55Immigration
29:55Advocates
29:56Like Congresswoman
29:57Jayapal
29:57And my
29:58Fellow freshman
29:59Congresswoman
29:59Dexter
30:00I know
30:01That when we
30:02Work together
30:03As members of
30:04Congress
30:04And with
30:05Community
30:05We are more
30:07Powerful
30:07And we are
30:08Not giving up
30:09This fight
30:09I'm now
30:11So honored
30:12To introduce
30:13Maxine
30:14Dexter
30:14Congresswoman
30:14From Oregon
30:15Good afternoon
30:20And I want
30:21To reiterate
30:21What my
30:22Colleagues
30:22Said
30:22My thanks
30:23For you
30:23All being
30:23Here today
30:24My name
30:25Is Maxine
30:26Dexter
30:26I'm a
30:27Mother
30:27A physician
30:28And a
30:29Very proud
30:29Representative
30:30For Oregon's
30:31Third
30:31Congressional
30:31District
30:32And last
30:33Week
30:33As you've
30:33Heard
30:34I conducted
30:34My duty
30:35My duty
30:36To perform
30:37Oversight
30:38With my
30:38Colleagues
30:39Congresswoman
30:40Jayapal
30:41And
30:41Congresswoman
30:41Randall
30:42We were
30:44Unannounced
30:44We arrived
30:45At the
30:45Northwest
30:46Detention
30:46Center
30:46In Tacoma
30:47Washington
30:47What I have
30:49To continue
30:49To underline
30:50Is this
30:51Is a
30:51For profit
30:52Institution
30:53That benefits
30:54From the
30:54Unconstitutional
30:56Imprisonment
30:58Of people
30:59Throughout
31:00Our districts
31:01This facility
31:02Serves all
31:04Of the
31:04Pacific Northwest
31:05And Donald
31:07Trump
31:07As you've
31:08Heard
31:08Is claiming
31:09That he
31:09Is targeting
31:10Violent
31:10Criminals
31:11The worst
31:11Of the worst
31:12But what
31:13I saw
31:14What we
31:14Saw
31:15Is very
31:16Different
31:16He's going
31:17After union
31:18Members
31:19Lawful
31:20Permanent
31:21Residents
31:21People
31:22Who have
31:22Lived
31:23In this
31:23Country
31:23For
31:24Decades
31:24People
31:25Who have
31:25Paid
31:26Taxes
31:26Raised
31:27Families
31:27And contribute
31:29To our
31:29Communities
31:29In the
31:30Ways
31:30That you've
31:30Heard
31:31They're
31:31Very
31:31Meaningful
31:32And their
31:33Children
31:34Have had
31:34Their parents
31:35Ripped away
31:36From them
31:36Or they
31:37Themselves
31:37Have been
31:38Ripped away
31:38From their
31:39Families
31:39These are
31:41Breaking up
31:42Families
31:43They are
31:43Citizens
31:44We are
31:45Undermining
31:46Trust
31:46We are
31:47Decreasing
31:48The likelihood
31:49That people
31:49Believe in
31:50The promise
31:50Of America
31:51When we
31:51Do this
31:52He's detaining
31:54Our neighbors
31:55Our co-workers
31:56And our
31:57Loved
31:57Ones
31:58And again
31:59He's doing
32:00It without
32:00Ensuring due
32:01Process
32:01Without
32:02Meaningful
32:02Oversight
32:03And with
32:04Blatant
32:04Disregard
32:05For human
32:05Dignity
32:06At the
32:07Northwest
32:08Detention
32:09Center
32:09We met
32:09Maximo
32:10A lawful
32:11Permanent
32:11Resident
32:12A proud
32:13Member
32:13Of the
32:13Machinist
32:14Union
32:14And a
32:15Father
32:15As you've
32:15Heard
32:15Of three
32:16U.S.
32:16Citizens
32:17He came
32:18To the
32:18United States
32:19At age
32:19Twelve
32:20He is
32:20Married
32:21To a
32:21United
32:21States
32:22Citizen
32:22And his
32:23Family
32:23Said he
32:24Has no
32:25History
32:25Of violent
32:26Crime
32:26And yet
32:27Who's
32:27Detained
32:28By ICE
32:28While returning
32:29From a
32:30Trip with
32:30His wife
32:31To celebrate
32:32Their 20th
32:32Anniversary
32:33He was
32:34Then sent
32:35To the
32:36Northwest
32:36Detention
32:36Center
32:37After being
32:37Kept
32:38In the
32:38Airport
32:39Facility
32:40For five
32:40Days
32:41No
32:42Explanation
32:43To his
32:43Family
32:43No
32:44Explanation
32:45To him
32:45Why he
32:45Was being
32:46Detained
32:46This is
32:47Not an
32:48Outlier
32:48Story
32:49It is
32:50Emblematic
32:50Of a
32:51System
32:51That has
32:52Been
32:52Weaponized
32:53To instill
32:53Fear
32:54Break
32:54Families
32:55Apart
32:55And funnel
32:56Billions
32:57Of dollars
32:58Into the
32:58Pockets
32:59Of for
32:59Profit
33:00Prison
33:00Contractors
33:01And let
33:02Me be
33:02Clear
33:03Trump's
33:04Cruel
33:04Immigration
33:05Agenda
33:05Is not
33:07About
33:07Your
33:07Safety
33:08It is
33:09About
33:09Cruelty
33:09Chaos
33:11And
33:11Control
33:12And I'm
33:13Here to
33:14Say the
33:14Emergency
33:14Isn't
33:15Coming
33:15It is
33:16Here
33:17This is
33:18What
33:18Authoritarianism
33:20Looks
33:20Like
33:20But here's
33:22What gives
33:22Me hope
33:22Our
33:23Communities
33:24Are not
33:24Powerless
33:25And we
33:26Will not
33:26Stand
33:27For this
33:27Cruelty
33:28People
33:29Across
33:30This
33:30Country
33:31Are rising
33:31Up
33:32Saying
33:32Enough
33:33We refuse
33:34To accept
33:34A system
33:35That dehumanizes
33:36Immigrants
33:37Tears
33:37Families
33:37Apart
33:38And funnels
33:39Billions
33:39Into private
33:40Prisons
33:40With no
33:41Accountability
33:42We are
33:43Organizing
33:44We are
33:44Speaking
33:45Out
33:45And we
33:46Are demanding
33:46Justice
33:47And the
33:47Stakes
33:48Could not
33:48Be higher
33:49Neither
33:50Could our
33:50Resolve
33:51We must
33:52Stay
33:52Loud
33:52We must
33:53Stay
33:53Focused
33:54And know
33:55This
33:55Every
33:56Single
33:56Person
33:57Beside
33:57Me
33:57Will keep
33:58Fighting
33:58Every
33:59Single
33:59Day
34:00For a
34:00Just
34:01Humane
34:01And
34:02Accountable
34:02Immigration
34:03System
34:03That reflects
34:04The values
34:05That we
34:05Hold
34:06As
34:06Americans
34:07Thank you
34:08Very much
34:08Thank you
34:18Very
34:18Much
34:19Want
34:19To
34:19Thank
34:19The
34:20Press
34:20For
34:21Being
34:21Here
34:21Today
34:21To
34:22Make
34:22Sure
34:23That
34:23These
34:23Stories
34:23Don't
34:24Go
34:24Unnoticed
34:25These
34:26Are
34:27Serious
34:27Violations
34:28Of
34:28Our
34:28Law
34:28Of
34:29Due
34:30Process
34:30And if
34:31I
34:31Can
34:31I
34:33Also
34:33Stand
34:34Echo
34:35The
34:35Comments
34:36Made
34:36My
34:36Colleagues
34:37Here
34:37Today
34:38But let
34:39Me
34:39Give
34:40You
34:40Bigger
34:40Context
34:41Here
34:41Of
34:41What
34:41We're
34:41Talking
34:42About
34:42I'm
34:44Out of
34:44Orange
34:44County
34:44California
34:45I'm
34:46Home
34:46To
34:46The
34:46Biggest
34:47Number
34:47Of
34:47Dreamers
34:48In
34:48The
34:48Country
34:48We're
34:49The
34:49Fourth
34:50Largest
34:50Economy
34:51In
34:51The
34:51World
34:51California
34:52Biggest
34:53Act
34:54Sector
34:54In
34:55The
34:55United
34:55States
34:56California
34:57Most
34:58Of
34:58Those
34:58Workers
34:59In
34:59The
34:59Act
35:00Sector
35:00Are
35:00Undocumented
35:01We
35:02Have
35:02The
35:03Biggest
35:03Manufacturing
35:04Center
35:05In
35:05The
35:05United
35:06States
35:06California
35:07Most
35:08Of
35:08Those
35:08Workers
35:09Are
35:09Undocumented
35:10My
35:12Point
35:12Is
35:12Simple
35:13Our
35:14Economy
35:14Relies
35:15On
35:15This
35:16Workforce
35:16We
35:18We
35:18Also
35:18By
35:18The
35:18Way
35:18Give
35:19$100
35:20Billion
35:20More
35:21To
35:22The
35:22Federal
35:22Government
35:23Every
35:23Year
35:24As
35:24Californians
35:25Than
35:26We
35:26Get
35:26Back
35:27We're
35:29Like
35:29Everybody
35:29Else
35:30We
35:30Want
35:30Safe
35:31Streets
35:31We
35:32Don't
35:32Want
35:32Serious
35:33Violent
35:33Criminals
35:34As
35:35Our
35:35Neighbors
35:35And
35:37I
35:37Would
35:38Ask
35:38You
35:38Would
35:39A
35:39Serious
35:40Violent
35:40Criminal
35:41Show
35:42Up
35:42In
35:43A
35:43Court
35:43Of
35:44Course
35:44Not
35:45In
35:46My
35:46District
35:47Today
35:47These
35:49Individuals
35:50Are
35:51Following
35:51The
35:51Law
35:52Showing
35:53Up
35:53According
35:54To
35:54DHS
35:55Rules
35:55ICE
35:56Rules
35:56Showing
35:57Up
35:57To
35:57Court
35:58Hearings
35:58And
36:00They're
36:00Having
36:01Their
36:02Removal
36:02Cases
36:03Dismissed
36:04Do
36:05You
36:05Get
36:05That
36:05Show
36:07Up
36:07To
36:07Court
36:07For
36:08Your
36:08Removal
36:09Case
36:10It's
36:10Dismissed
36:11What
36:12Do
36:12These
36:12Individuals
36:13Do
36:13They
36:14Walk
36:14Out
36:14Of
36:14The
36:15Court
36:15Room
36:15Immediately
36:17As
36:17They
36:17Walk
36:18Out
36:18Of
36:18That
36:18Court
36:19Room
36:19They
36:19Are
36:20Rearrested
36:21And
36:22Put
36:22Into
36:22What
36:22Is
36:23Called
36:23An
36:24Expedited
36:24Removal
36:25Process
36:26You
36:27Get
36:28That
36:28Picture
36:28Dismissed
36:30Expedited
36:31Removal
36:31Process
36:32For
36:33A
36:34Process
36:34That's
36:34More
36:35Expedited
36:36Quickly
36:38Get
36:38Them
36:38Out
36:38Of
36:38The
36:39Country
36:39I
36:41Would
36:41Ask
36:42ICE
36:42DHS
36:43To
36:44Think
36:44Really
36:44Hard
36:45You
36:45Got
36:46Individuals
36:46That
36:46Are
36:47Workers
36:47Part
36:48Of
36:48Our
36:48Economy
36:49Contributing
36:50Some
36:51Have
36:51Been
36:51Here
36:5120
36:5230
36:52Years
36:52They
36:55They're
36:55Trying
36:56To
36:56Comply
36:57With
36:57The
36:57Law
36:58They're
36:58Following
36:59DHS
37:00Directions
37:00Homeland
37:01ICE
37:01And
37:03When
37:03They
37:04Think
37:04I'm
37:05Clear
37:05They're
37:06Rearrested
37:06What's
37:07What's
37:07The
37:07Incentive
37:08That
37:08You
37:08Are
37:08Creating
37:09Or
37:09Giving
37:09Other
37:10Individuals
37:10Out
37:10There
37:11To
37:12Go
37:12Deeper
37:13Underground
37:13Ladies
37:15And
37:15Gentlemen
37:15This
37:16Is
37:16Not
37:17The
37:17Way
37:17You
37:18Want
37:18To
37:18Run
37:18A
37:19Country
37:19The
37:20Fourth
37:21Largest
37:21Economy
37:21In
37:21The
37:22World
37:22Or
37:23This
37:23Great
37:23Nation
37:24Thank
37:25You
37:25The
37:25Press
37:26Please
37:26Follow
37:27These
37:27Stories
37:27Make
37:28Sure
37:28You
37:29Report
37:29Them
37:29Because
37:30The
37:30World
37:31Needs
37:31To
37:31Know
37:31What's
37:32Going
37:32On
37:33Thank
37:33You
37:33Thank
37:37You
37:37Lou
37:38Thank
37:38You
37:39Sylvia
37:39Any
37:41Questions
37:41Yeah
37:42Well
37:44I
37:44Would
37:44Like
37:44To
37:45Ask
37:45You
37:45About
37:45The
37:46Yesterday
37:46Decision
37:47Of
37:47Donald
37:47Trump
37:47In
37:48Relation
37:48To
37:49The
37:49Entry
37:50And
37:50The
37:51Entry
37:51Restrictions
37:53To
37:53The
37:53Country
37:53So
37:54What's
37:55Your
37:55Opinion
37:56About
37:56That
37:56Yeah
37:57The
37:57Travel
37:57Bound
37:58I
37:58Mean
37:58He
37:58Tried
37:59That
37:59Before
38:00In
38:00His
38:00First
38:00Term
38:01It
38:02Was
38:02One
38:02Of
38:03The
38:03First
38:03Actions
38:04You
38:04May
38:04Remember
38:04That
38:05He
38:05Took
38:05And
38:06We
38:06Stood
38:07Up
38:07Against
38:07It
38:07And
38:07We
38:08Going
38:08To
38:08Stand
38:08Up
38:09Against
38:09It
38:09Again
38:10You
38:11Know
38:11Many
38:11Would
38:12Like
38:12Us
38:12To
38:12Be
38:12Silent
38:13Many
38:13Would
38:13Like
38:14Us
38:14To
38:14Hide
38:14Under
38:15A
38:15Rock
38:15We
38:16Will
38:16Not
38:17We
38:18Will
38:19Speak
38:19Out
38:20We
38:20Will
38:20Fight
38:21Back
38:21We
38:21Will
38:22Hold
38:23These
38:24Detention
38:25Centers
38:25Accountable
38:26We
38:27Will
38:27Comply
38:28With
38:28Our
38:29Juris
38:29To
38:30Have
38:30Oversight
38:31We
38:32Will
38:32Ensure
38:32That
38:33Due
38:33Process
38:34Is
38:34Followed
38:35To
38:35The
38:35Letter
38:36Of
38:36The
38:36Law
38:37We
38:37Will
38:38Make
38:38Sure
38:38That
38:38No
38:39Human
38:40Rights
38:40Are
38:40Violated
38:41And
38:41That
38:42People
38:42Are
38:42Treated
38:43Fairly
38:44And
38:45We
38:45Will
38:45Continue
38:45With
38:46These
38:47Visits
38:47To
38:48These
38:48Detention
38:49Centers
38:49Can
38:51We
38:53Have
38:54Also
38:54A
38:54Spanish
38:55Answer
38:57Please
38:57We
38:58We
38:58To
38:58We
39:01We
39:03Will
39:03Tim
39:03We
39:04Ho
39:05H
39:07We
39:09To
39:09Asegurar
39:10A
39:10that the detention system of this person is a right system that does not violate the
39:18rights of them, that the rights in general to a right process are protected by the law.
39:27So we will be in vigilance and support of these immigrants.
39:40And this last week I noticed American veterans of the Afghan war in our hallways fighting for Afghan refugees to keep them in the U.S.
39:53So you're talking about people that fought along Americans who backed, watched their back of Americans,
40:01saved Americans in the battlefield, and now you are saying you can't come to the U.S.
40:07Again, what is the message we're sending the world when it comes to being a battlefield with Americans?
40:13This is not good.
40:15Yeah, I just want to add that, and I'm very hopeful, that just as the Supreme Court, you know,
40:22held his first rebel ban, and I think the second and third version, he went to two or three versions of it,
40:28held it unconstitutional, that they could do that again, because there's no rhyme or reason as how you think
40:34to choose all those countries. It's just deplorable, I think it's unconstitutional.
40:39I'm sure there will be lawsuits filed as quickly as they can.
40:44Question?
40:46Are you getting from ICE and ICE contractors all the access that you're seeking at the detention sites you visited?
40:52I must say that the Elizabeth, New Jersey, detention center that we visited, there was no objection from.
41:01Can I say something?
41:03We visited a for-profit center, so it was their decision to make.
41:08There was a representative there from ICE.
41:11But anything that we asked for in writing, like a copy of the inspection report, a profile of the 800 population that was there,
41:21you know, by age, by sex, things that we wanted in writing, they just said no.
41:28And he would always just look to the, Warden would look to the ICE guy and he'd go like,
41:33well, no, we'll have to ask ICE, we'll have to ask ICE.
41:36So, yes, we got a tour, yes, we were able to visit, but we got no data, no monthly reports,
41:44nothing to back up some of the things that they were saying.
41:47And in addition to that, when asked about the finances of the place, they had no answers.
41:53So, we want to find out about the finances here, right?
41:58And they had no answer when we visited them, but we'll be looking at that as well.
42:03Right here and then later.
42:04We obviously saw one of your colleagues, actually a group of your colleagues, be denied entry to an ICE facility
42:11and then an altercation ensued and then the Trump administration, through their district attorney,
42:16filed charges against one of your colleagues, Congresswoman McIver.
42:20Do those charges and does that, you know, sequence of events give any of you pause about conducting oversight?
42:25And are you giving any of your colleagues advice for how to conduct these oversight visits
42:30so that you can get as much access as possible?
42:33Well, we will not succumb to any intimidation tactics.
42:38We will continue to comply with our duty to have oversight of these detention centers,
42:45and we will visit them within the parameters of the law.
42:50Well, CHC and a number of other groups have what we call the toolkit that kind of has guidelines of what to ask,
42:59you know, sort of a checklist, and also things to do and how to respond to some of their actions.
43:05So, yes, we provide some guidance.
43:09Some of the more alarming details you guys have shared, the masks, the, you know,
43:13apprehensions that seem to be happening to children on bus stops and that sort of thing.
43:17I guess that makes me wonder, what's the normative process that governs the way that ICE acts?
43:22Especially when I think some Republicans look at that and say,
43:26there is no due process afforded undocumented immigrants.
43:29In your mind, what is supposed to happen in terms of what governs what ICE does
43:33and how they go about these apprehensions?
43:35And where can you point to, like, where do we see a departure from that norm, I guess?
43:41First, let me direct you to a particular case that occurred recently
43:45where a Honduran mom was being handcuffed and she went into a panic attack.
43:52And it took her little boy, maybe like a five- or six-year-old little boy,
43:57to step up and say, Mom, I'm here for you.
44:03Listen to that.
44:05That's the state of affairs here in America right now.
44:09And, of course, anybody that steps foot on soil in the United States is already protected
44:18and guarded by the U.S. Constitution.
44:21And there should be due process extended to that person.
44:25But I will defer to the attorney who...
44:28Well, they're sure.
44:30Or two of them.
44:32Well, you know, there is immigration law.
44:36There's immigration law that's been in place.
44:38I think the key thing that we should remember is that immigration law is not criminal law.
44:44Period.
44:45The convict in the White House seems to think that any violation of immigration law
44:50that need to be deported, there are crimes for criminals.
44:53That really isn't just a complete exaggeration.
44:57It's civil.
44:58It's what we call in law administrative law.
45:01It's a regulation.
45:03So the entire premise of this whole notion that immigration law is criminal law is just contrary to what immigration law has always been.
45:13And they should always have an opportunity to be able to have an afforded opportunity to go before an immigration law judge.
45:19They should be afforded the right to be able to hire an attorney.
45:23They should be afforded.
45:24Imagine children as young as five and six taken to a judge without a lawyer, without a guardian ad litem, without parents.
45:33I mean, how can a five- or six-year-old present a case?
45:38I read that last week somewhere, I forget where right now, children were zip-tied.
45:44Children.
45:45There's no reason for that.
45:47So if you ask me how do we normalize it, we start from square one.
45:52Because this administration not only has a sort of kind of tosses the Constitution aside,
45:59they've tossed immigration law aside, any notion of due process.
46:04They really just want to do whatever they want to do to make you look.
46:08And the bottom line here is if they are picking up U.S. citizen children,
46:14if they're picking up LPRs that live in permanent residence,
46:17if they're picking up people who have status, including students,
46:23they're masked, they just show up two or three, you know, at night.
46:27I've seen the tapes.
46:29That means the next one they can stop is you.
46:32They can just decide because it's all profiling.
46:35Oh, well, you look like an immigrant.
46:37Well, we're going to stop you.
46:39That never, any time you profile it, you know, you're on the road to calamities.
46:45But I yield to the other lawyers.
46:47I just want to simply say the Constitution affords due process the rights to everybody.
46:53Period.
46:54Period.
46:55One last question.
46:56Earlier you said it's a catch-22 for these people going to these hearings
47:00that they've been going to for years.
47:03What is your advice to immigrants who have to go to these hearings?
47:07What should they do to properly prepare?
47:09Is there anything they can do to properly prepare for these hearings
47:12if they have a fear that they could be detained afterwards?
47:15Well, again, as Congressman Correa stated,
47:20many of these cases are being dismissed.
47:25And the minute they step out, those folks are arrested.
47:30They're re-arrested.
47:31They're re-arrested.
47:32They're re-arrested.
47:33They put an expedited removal.
47:35And my advice is make sure you have an attorney.
47:38Consult with your attorney.
47:40Follow the law.
47:41This is about following the law.
47:43And sadly, what I tell my constituents back home is, you hope for the best.
47:50And you prepare for the worst.
47:52Which means if we have 20, 30 years, and your deportation proceedings,
47:58you need to make sure that you prepare for who's going to take care of your children,
48:04who's going to be there to take care of whatever assets you have.
48:08So, you hope for the best.
48:10You prepare for the worst.
48:12Thank you so much.
48:13Thank you all for coming.
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