Fighting Dhs Immigration Raids

Floor Speech

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Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Congresswoman Ramirez for organizing today's important conversation on the Trump administration's cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrant communities.

This is an important discussion to have in front of the American people because, as they have seen, ICE is out of control. All summer, ICE has been terrorizing communities across Los Angeles, sowing fear in our families, and rounding up our most vulnerable.

I have been sharing the story of Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz, a senior at Reseda High School who was detained by ICE while walking his dog. He is an older brother, a loving son, and a valued member of the community.

He is a high school student, just a kid. Benjamin should be in a classroom, not a courtroom.

Benjamin was detained by ICE, separated from his family and friends. He was originally transferred from the Adelanto Detention Facility in California to a detention center in Arizona. Less than 24 hours later, he was on a plane ready to be sent to Louisiana, but instead, he was sent back to California. This all occurred without his family even knowing.

I keep sharing this story because the American people deserve to see how cruelly ICE is treating children, elderly women, and others, even a U.S. Senator.

ICE is incapable of treating our most vulnerable with the respect that they deserve. If this was happening to Benjamin, imagine who else it is happening to.

I have been urging ICE leadership to answer for their chaotic, inconsistent, and cruel decisionmaking processes that have torn apart families across the country.

This is why I introduced the INFORM Act. My bill holds ICE accountable for the nightmare they are forcing families like Benjamin's to live through. Many immigrant families in my district do not know the whereabouts of their loved ones after they are detained by ICE. My bill respects the dignity of immigrant families and promotes government transparency.

With my Hispanic Caucus and Progressive Caucus colleagues, I will continue showing up to detention facilities and working with my colleagues to hold ICE accountable, promote government transparency, and respect the dignity of immigrant families.

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