Congressman David Price (D-NC) and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) today applauded Secretary Janet Napolitano’s efforts to overhaul the nation’s immigration detention system. The Secretary of Homeland Security announced a series of changes to existing immigration detention practices today, following a review of the immigration detention system spearheaded by Dora Schriro, the former advisor to the Secretary on immigration enforcement policy. Many of the proposed improvements, such as... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) meets with representatives of the Salvadoran-American Leadership Summit, including Los Angeles members, to discuss their shared concerns about the need for comprehensive immigration reform. The delegation included the executive director of El Rescate, a non-profit organization located in the Pico Union area of the 34th District which serves immigrant families. Founded in 1981, El Rescate (translated “The Rescue” in English) was the first organization f... Read more

“Secretary Solis, (shown sitting on the stage) thank you for hosting this distinguished panel to highlight the deplorable and often dangerous conditions facing children who work in the fields and the orchards of our country. The plight of these children is an issue we have been trying to shine a light on for years and we are encouraged and energized that you are leading our Labor Department and have a seat in the President’s Cabinet. I know I speak for all who are here, when I tell you Madam Sec... Read more

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) introduced "The Children’s Act for Responsible Employment" (CARE) today to ensure adequate protections for children working in our nation’s agricultural fields. “It is unacceptable that children who work in agriculture, one of this country’s most dangerous occupations, are less protected under U.S. law than juveniles working in other occupations,” Congresswoman Roybal-Allard said. “The CARE bill addresses this inequity by raising lab... Read more

Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) welcomed a series of reforms announced by John Morton, the new head of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which are intended to improve oversight of America’s deeply flawed immigration detention system. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard said, “The creation of advisory boards to recommend positive changes to detention policy and the hiring of officials to monitor conditions at detention centers will shine a brighter light on a system t... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) met with Los Angeles high school students visiting our nation’s capital for the World Vision Youth Empowerment Summit July 19-23. They were among more than 100 youth delegates from around the United States, ages 15 to 18, participating in the summit, the purpose of which was to highlight the voice of young people in the community development process and as advocates on behalf of local issues related to youth and poverty in our country. During the meeti... Read more

At a briefing sponsored by the National Coalition for Immigrant Women’s Rights, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard spoke about the importance of enacting The Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act, which she authored to strengthen detention standards, ensure that children are treated humanely and expand alternatives to incarceration. The complete text of her remarks are as follows: “I would like to express my appreciation to the Women’s Refugee Commission, the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, the Nati... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard meets with representatives from immigrant rights groups to discuss her bill to reform the immigrant detention system—H.R. 1215, The Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act. Read more

U.S. Reps. Howard Berman (CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL) joined by a bipartisan group of original cosponsors, announced today the introduction of the “American Dream Act" (HR 1751), which will provide a path to permanent residency for thousands of young people who have been raised here, worked hard in school, and would like to pursue higher education or serve their country in the military. These students face tremendous obstacles in reaching their potential because,... Read more

Following this morning’s meeting with the President at the White House, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard made the following statement: “I am pleased that the President committed to working with the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus this year to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation. To help us craft the best and most comprehensive immigration bill possible, he committed to hosting a public forum – as he has on other critical issues such as health care – that will includ... Read more