House Democrats Formally Request that Homeland Security Secretary Kelly Brief Caucus on President Trump’s Executive Orders, Immigration Policies

(Washington) – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY), along with 141 House Democrats, today sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly formally requesting a briefing on President Trump’s executive orders on refugees, travel bans, and immigration for members of the caucus.

The letter was led by Crowley, House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), and Reps. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.).

“On behalf of the House Democratic Caucus, we would like to invite you and department officials to address a meeting of our caucus in the coming weeks. In the short time since President Trump took office, we have seen a number of alarming actions take place around immigration enforcement, refugee and travel restrictions, and other national security issues,” the Members of Congress wrote. "Because many of these fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security, our members would appreciate the opportunity to share the concerns raised by their constituents.”

The Trump Administration has seemingly increased deportations of non-violent illegal immigrants within the United States, blocked refugees from entering the country, and imposed two travel bans that block travelers from predominately Muslim countries. The Muslim Ban – the latest issued on Monday – goes against our values as Americans and will make service-members living and working abroad less safe.

Members of the House Democratic Caucus, led by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, have requested meetings with the Trump Administration – notably from Immigration and Customs Enforcement – but only a small group of lawmakers have been granted a briefing as of now. House Democrats are asking for a caucus-wide briefing from the Homeland Security Secretary, as many members of the caucus have areas of concern that fall under his purview.

Read the full letter here.       

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