Thursday, March 28, 2024

At ceremony, Latino legislators vow to overcome government shutdown

At a ceremony to usher in a record number of Latino Democrats in Congress, lawmakers exuded more outrage than delight as they recognized their legislative ambitions are contending for now with a standoff over a border wall with Mexico that has partially shut down the government. “It’s because of Trump’s obsession with stirring up anti-immigrant […]

Koch network preparing to push a DREAMer deal this year

The massive network of conservative donors spearheaded by Charles Koch is reportedly preparing a major effort in 2019 to support DREAMers. The powerful network intends to push for Dreamers to receive permanent legal status, TIME reported, citing an internal email that a Koch spokesman verified. “These are people who have already demonstrated their commitment and […]

An 8-year-old Guatemalan boy dies while in the custody of Border Patrol

An 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died late Christmas Eve in the custody of US Customs and Border Protection, the agency said, the second Guatemalan child to die in the agency’s custody this month. Rep. Joaquin Castro, chairman-elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, identified the child in a statement as Felipe Alonzo-Gomez. The boy, who was detained […]

Congressman Castro wants top border official to resign

Democratic Rep. Joaquín Castro issued a call for the head of Customs and Border Protection to step down for failing to speedily report the death of a 7-year-old girl while in border officials’ custody. Castro made the demand Tuesday after he and 11 other members of Congress visited border facilities to find out more about […]

Sen. Cortez Masto hires a Latino chief of Staff

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who made history as the first Latina elected to the U.S. Senate, hired Reynaldo Benitez to be her chief of staff, making him one of two Latinos to hold that influential Senate job starting next year. Cortez Masto, D-Nev., announced Benitez’s promotion to the senior position on Friday. Benitez, 32, was […]

Pelosi hopes to pass legislation to help DREAMers with a Democratic House Majority

Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi vowed to pass legislation that would put DREAMers on a pathway to citizenship when her party retakes control “Our House Democratic Majority will once again pass the Dream Act to end the uncertainty and fear inflicted on patriotic young men and women across the country.” Pelosi said in a […]

Ed Pastor, Arizona’s 1st Latino congressman dies

Former U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, who championed liberal causes as Arizona’s first Latino member of Congress but was known for his bipartisanship, died after suffering a heart attack, his family said Wednesday. He was 75. Pastor, a Democrat, served 23 years in Congress until deciding in 2014 against running for re-election. Pastor won a 1991 […]

A record of 42 Latinos will serve in Congress

A record 42 Latinos are set to serve in Congress next year following Tuesday’s midterm elections, the most representation ever reached by the demographic on Capitol Hill, according to an AP analysis. Thirty-three Latino Democratic candidates and seven Republican candidates won their races this week, with only one race remaining undecided as of Thursday evening. Democratic House […]

Despite little support, Latino lawmakers continue pushing for Smithsonian Latino museum

Latino members of Congress are renewing their call for a national museum devoted to Latino history and culture, urging the passage of legislation to cover some of the costs. Rep. Tony Cardenas, a California Democrat, said Thursday, “If we don’t take charge, another decade is going to go by, another decade is going to go […]

A 28-year-old Latina just beat long standing congressman in New York

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old Latina running her first campaign, ousted 10-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in New York’s 14th congressional district last night. “The reason I was able to do that is because we have built a legitimately strong grassroots movement of organizers here to hold it down for 24 to 48 hours,” she said, […]