DILLEY, Texas (AP) — Democratic Reps. Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett on Wednesday set out to visit the Texas facility holding a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father whose detention has fueled protests over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
Castro said he and Crockett, who is also a U.S. Senate candidate, planned to meet with the family, who were sent to Texas after they were detained in a Minneapolis suburb last week. Castro said he also intended to speak with others being held at the facility in Dilley, where detainees have described poor conditions.
Dozens of protesters waved signs and flags outside the South Texas Family Residential Center, where detainees staged their own demonstration over the weekend.
“We’re going to find out in a little bit whether they’re going to honor their word, what they said they would allow us to do, what we are legally entitled as members of Congress to do, which is to check on the welfare of these folks,” Castro said in a video posted on social media.
The trip is part of Democrats’ midterm-election year effort to conduct congressional oversight and highlight the consequences of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Administration officials have previously denied some members of Congress entry to federal detention facilities, though Castro stated that detainees in Dilley had the opportunity to sign up to meet him and Crockett.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, into custody Jan. 20 in Minneapolis as part of a sweeping operation. This crackdown has caused local unrest and drawn public protests. A federal judge recently issued a temporary order prohibiting the Trump administration from removing Ramos and Arias from the U.S. as their detention is under legal challenge.
Democrats have criticized the Trump administration for limiting access to ICE facilities, evidenced by Minnesota Reps. Angie Craig, Kelly Morrison, and Ilhan Omar being denied entry on Jan. 10. The Department of Homeland Security claimed these members did not comply with a new seven-day notice policy
Castro, a prominent member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, accused Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of running a “lawless” immigration enforcement. Castro and Crockett, along with other Democrats, are advocating for Noem’s impeachment and calling for the reevaluation of immigration enforcement funding as public scrutiny intensifies.
The Republican-controlled House passed a funding bill for the DHS, but concerns about the department's immigration practices continue to prompt calls for accountability.
Castro said he and Crockett, who is also a U.S. Senate candidate, planned to meet with the family, who were sent to Texas after they were detained in a Minneapolis suburb last week. Castro said he also intended to speak with others being held at the facility in Dilley, where detainees have described poor conditions.
Dozens of protesters waved signs and flags outside the South Texas Family Residential Center, where detainees staged their own demonstration over the weekend.
“We’re going to find out in a little bit whether they’re going to honor their word, what they said they would allow us to do, what we are legally entitled as members of Congress to do, which is to check on the welfare of these folks,” Castro said in a video posted on social media.
The trip is part of Democrats’ midterm-election year effort to conduct congressional oversight and highlight the consequences of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Administration officials have previously denied some members of Congress entry to federal detention facilities, though Castro stated that detainees in Dilley had the opportunity to sign up to meet him and Crockett.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, into custody Jan. 20 in Minneapolis as part of a sweeping operation. This crackdown has caused local unrest and drawn public protests. A federal judge recently issued a temporary order prohibiting the Trump administration from removing Ramos and Arias from the U.S. as their detention is under legal challenge.
Democrats have criticized the Trump administration for limiting access to ICE facilities, evidenced by Minnesota Reps. Angie Craig, Kelly Morrison, and Ilhan Omar being denied entry on Jan. 10. The Department of Homeland Security claimed these members did not comply with a new seven-day notice policy
Castro, a prominent member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, accused Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of running a “lawless” immigration enforcement. Castro and Crockett, along with other Democrats, are advocating for Noem’s impeachment and calling for the reevaluation of immigration enforcement funding as public scrutiny intensifies.
The Republican-controlled House passed a funding bill for the DHS, but concerns about the department's immigration practices continue to prompt calls for accountability.
