Castro Leads CHC Calling for Investigation of Abbott’s Family Separations

Texas Representative Joaquin Castro (D) led Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) members in calling for the Biden administration to investigate Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s (R) migrant family separation practices.

“With Operation Lone Star, Governor Greg Abbott is taking our country down a road that is reminiscent of the worst episodes of moral failure in our country's history,” said Rep. Castro.

“The Biden administration must not simply look the other way while children are dying on Operation Lone Star buses and fathers are being ripped from their families and detained for months at a time with no due process.”

The Texas representative stated his desire for the government to treat the migrants in a humane way.

“Americans deserve serious conversations about immigration reform, but this brutality has no place in our country. There's a right way to treat people and a wrong way to treat people, and the federal government has a responsibility to step in and protect human rights.”

The tactics used by the Abbott administration have been criticized by several lawmakers. Most decry the use of family separation as a way to keep migrants out of the country.

“The reports that children and families at the U.S.-Mexico border are being traumatized through cruel separation tactics ordered by Governor Greg Abbott are disturbing. The Governor continues to escalate his inhumane border policies causing further harm to innocent people,” said CHC Chair Nanette Barragán.

Barragán discussed the treatment of the fathers being separated from their children.

“The CHC has learned that fathers are allegedly being incarcerated and then transferred to separate facilities in deplorable conditions with little to no communication given to mothers and children on their whereabouts. Reports also claim that their rights to due process are being violated with threats of waiting months in jail and promises of being reunited with their loved ones immediately if they instead choose to plead guilty,” said Barragán.

“The CHC will not stand for the mistreatment of vulnerable migrant families and asylum seekers. We call on the DOJ and DHS to investigate these allegations and ensure these families are reunited so they can proceed with their immigration cases together.”

Texas Representative Sylvia Garcia (D) has spoken out against Gov. Abbott’s policies for a while and has made statements calling his tactics “inhumane.”

“Governor Abbott continues his political stunts in implementing illegal, cruel, and inhumane tactics to unsuccessfully prevent migrant families from seeking a better quality of life. It is deeply alarming to hear reports of children being torn apart from their parents,” said CHC Whip Rep. Sylvia Garcia.

“Operation Lone Star interferes with the federal government’s role in enforcing immigration law and frustrates migrants' efforts in using their legal right to ask for asylum. Along with my colleagues, we urge the DOJ and DHS to conduct a thorough investigation into these serious allegations and take proactive measures to ensure the reunification of these families.”

“Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star blatantly disregards basic human rights and the rule of law,” said Rep. Tony Cárdenas.

“During my visit to the U.S.-Mexico border last week, I witnessed firsthand the cruelty imposed on asylum-seeking migrants and their families. Family separation is inhumane and beneath the values of our country. I join my colleagues in calling on the DOJ and DHS to investigate any unlawful practices and to quickly intervene to protect the rule of law.”

Texas Representative Veronica Escobar (D) criticized the harsh tactics for being considered border security.

“The tactics we're seeing Greg Abbott employ against migrants in the name of ‘border security’ are just as inhumane and horrendous as they were when the Trump administration used them. Justifying family separation and cruelty as deterrents to legal asylum seeking has no place in immigration policy or this country,” said Rep. Veronica Escobar.

She concluded her statements by calling for the DOJ to look into the legality of Abbott's actions. 

“While I remain grateful for the Biden administration’s commitment to finding solutions to the challenges at our borders within the scope of the executive branch, the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security must immediately investigate this needless suffering at our border inflicted by those seeking political wins for their base.”

The CHC’s statement is just the most recent example of the level of controversy surrounding the U.S.-Mexico border and the policies enacted to keep migrants from crossing it.