The California Congressional Delegation released a letter today calling on the Obama Administration to approve a waiver that would allow undocumented immigrants to purchase unsubsidized health insurance through Covered California, the state’s health benefits exchange. If approved, California would become the first state in the nation to allow individuals and families without legal immigration status to purchase care through the state’s health exchange. The call for approval of what is known as t... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) issued the following statement about today’s 4-4 Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Texas, regarding President Obama’s executive actions to expand Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and implement Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA): “Today’s split decision from the Supreme Court is deeply disappointing. Although the decision does not set a Supreme Court precedent, it does prevent DAPA and expa... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), the Ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today delivered the following statement at the full Appropriations Committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2017 Homeland Security Appropriations bill: Mr. Chairman, the terrorist attack and hate crime that was perpetrated in Orlando on June 12 was a tragedy for our entire nation. It serves as a stark reminder for all of us of the important work we are doing here today, and of... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) issued the following statement about her vote today against the fiscal year 2017 Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill: “Today, House Republican leaders engaged in a shameful abuse of power during consideration of the fiscal year 2017 MilCon/VA Appropriations Bill. “When they saw that Rep. Maloney’s amendment prohibiting anti-LGBT discrimination was about to be approved, GOP leaders held the vote open until they could force enough ... Read more

Today, Representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) joined children and parents from Honduras and El Salvador for a Capitol Hill press conference about raids, refugees, detention, and asylum issues. The group of children and parents traveled to Washington from Waukegan, IL, where they have settled since their arrival from Central America. They spoke about their experiences fleeing violence in Central America. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard has be... Read more

Today, reacting to a Reuters news story that the Obama Administration will launch a new round of immigration raids targeting Central American women and children, Representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), and Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04) released a joint statement: “We believe deportation targets should be felons, not families. We have inquired both with the White House and the Department of Homeland Security to get more information on the news reports about a new set of ra... Read more

This morning, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) joined fellow Congressional Hispanic Caucus members and House Democrats in speaking at a press conference regarding next Monday’s Supreme Court oral arguments in United States v. Texas. The case concerns President Obama’s executive actions to expand Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and implement Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). Congresswoman Roybal-Allard’s statement is below. “I... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), the Ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today delivered the following opening statement at a subcommittee hearing on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) budget request for fiscal year 2017. The hearing’s witness was ICE Director Sarah Saldaña. “Good morning, Director Saldaña, and welcome to this morning’s hearing. “Let me begin by saying how pleased I am that the Advisory Committee for family det... Read more

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), the Ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today delivered the following opening statement at a subcommittee hearing on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection budget request for fiscal year 2017. The hearing’s witness was CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske. Good morning, Commissioner Kerlikowske, and welcome. The discretionary budget request for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in fiscal year 2017 is $11.3 billion... Read more

Today, 54 House Democrats, led by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), and Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04), introduced the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act – a companion to similar legislation in the U.S. Senate – to protect children and other vulnerable groups in immigration proceedings by ensuring access to counsel, legal orientation programs, and case management services. The new legislation ensures due process for children and vulnerable individ... Read more