Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) joined U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves, members of Congress Judy Chu and Grace Napolitano, Los Angeles School Board Vice President Yolie Flores, and the ya es hora ¡HAGASE CONTAR! Census Coalition (It’s Time, Make Yourself Count!) at the Garza Primary Center in Boyle Heights in Los Angeles for an event to mark the national kick off of efforts by Latino organizations, the U.S. Census Bureau, school districts, early childhood education provider... Read more

At today's hearing (2/25/10) of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) called on Secretary Janet Napolitano to redouble her efforts to implement a more humane approach to the enforcement of America’s immigration laws. Citing the example of a Salvadoran man who committed suicide in an immigration jail after enduring unbearable pain in his legs for weeks—suffering his guards knowingly ignored—she urged the Department to accelerate its push to... Read more

When Margaret Fujioka was taken to a remote desert internment camp after Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Jesus and Carmen Garcia stepped up as faithful neighbors to guard her home. The immigrants from Mexico couldn't always fully communicate with Fujioka's parents from Japan, but their fast friendship transcended cultural differences. And when the war ended and Fujioka returned, Jewish neighbor Jane Leighton offered her a house-cleaning job. Other Japanese Americans encountered deep hostili... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) joined more than 800 immigration reform advocates and area leaders at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, known as “La Placita,” to rally support for enactment of comprehensive immigration reform legislation. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard also thanked her colleague, Congressman Luis Gutierrez (IL-4), who is head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Taskforce, for traveling to Los Angeles to participate in the event. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard s... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard commended Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary John Morton’s decision to end his agency’s policy of detaining asylum seekers who have a credible fear of persecution in their home countries. The shift follows years of advocacy by the congresswoman on behalf of this vulnerable group and reflects the goals of her bill—H.R. 1215, the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act. As an outspoken critic of our broken immigration system and a leadi... Read more

At a press conference on Capitol Hill, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) hailed the introduction the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act (CIR A.S.A.P.) of 2009, to which she contributed critical provisions to protect the rights of detained immigrants and enable undocumented students to attend college. As an outspoken critic of our broken immigration system and a leading voice in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard has lo... Read more

At a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard works to garner support for legislation she authored to protect children caught up in our nation’s immigration detention system. During her remarks, the congresswoman made the following points: “Children are the forgotten victims of our broken immigration system. This year, thousands will be apprehended alone along our southern border and many will suffer abuses and indignities that should shock and embarrass us as ... Read more

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano recently announced the results of a sweeping review of America’s immigrant detention system. Acknowledging its shortcomings, she pledged that her Department would implement a series of reforms to improve the management and oversight of this sprawling network of facilities. While I commend the Secretary’s determination to chart a bold new course in the treatment of detained immigrants, I remain convinced that administrative changes alone are insufficie... Read more

Last week, Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) introduced an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (HR 2847) which would require that the 2010 Census include a question about the immigration or citizenship status of census participants. Below is a statement from Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard about the damaging ramifications of the Vitter-Bennett amendment to the successful implementation of the 2010 Census. “I find it ver... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) commended Alejandro Mayorkas, the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, for initiating the transition to a fully automated application process for immigration benefits as well as his leadership to improve the agency’s customer service. Read more