CAPAC Denounces Planned Immigrant Deportation Raids
Washington, DC – Today, Reuters reported the Obama Administration intends to launch a nationwide 30-day “surge” of new immigration deportation raids targeting hundreds of families and young adults through the months of May and June. In January, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chairwoman Judy Chu condemned similar raids that resulted in the deportation of 121 individuals, mainly women and children from Central America. CAPAC immigration leaders released the following statements:
Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:
“Today’s news, if true, is devastating for immigrant families across the country, and is a huge step backwards from the progress made through the President’s executive actions. The targeting of refugee mothers and children is outrageous and diametrically opposed to our values as a nation. To deport these individuals and tear apart families is inhumane. As we strive to build trust within our communities, these proposed raids breed nothing but fear and suspicion. These raids and subsequent detention will undoubtedly lead to the re-victimization of refugee families fleeing gang warfare and drug violence. These raids were wrong in January and they are wrong today. Refugees with credible fear have a legal right to be in this country. They deserve due process and a fair day in court with access to appropriate language services as needed. We should help these refugees by offering them government provided attorneys rather than returning them to peril or even death. We are and must remain a nation of laws, but we are also a compassionate nation of principles. I am strongly opposed to these raids and urge the Obama Administration to work with us on a comprehensive solution to address the refugee crisis from Central America.”
Congressman Mike Honda (CA-17), CAPAC Immigration Task Force Chair:
“I am troubled by reports that ICE will conduct more raids on Central American families who have fled violence and murder. If these reports are true, we run the risk of mass deporting the very individuals who require asylum to protect the lives of themselves and their children. These are human beings who deserve dignity and the protection of the law. They do not deserve to be rounded up at the point of the same guns from which they have fled. In January, I joined many of my colleagues expressing our outrage with these raids, calling on President Obama to urge that families, women, and children receive real due process. As the Ranking Member of the subcommittee that funds our immigration courts, I am fighting for funding to provide this due process in our courts. Whether you live or die should not be left up to your ability to fight through complicated legal proceedings on your own. As former Peace Corp volunteer in El Salvador, I strongly believe that we should not be sending individuals back to the very countries we have deemed so dangerous that we recently pulled out our Peace Corps volunteers.”
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The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and Members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.