Sunday, May 19, 2024

Republicans join Democrats in rejecting Trump’s Border Emergency Declaration

A dozen Republicans joined Senate Democrats yesterday to overturn President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the southwestern border, arguing that the president had exceeded his powers in trying to build a border wall over Congress’s objections. The 59-to-41 vote on a measure already approved by the House set up the first veto of […]

House Democrats introduce bill called the Dream and Promise Act

House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a new version of the Dream Act amid renewed debate over border security funding. The bill’s proponents say that this time they aim to get it signed into law by President Trump or at least past the Senate and onto Trump’s desk. The proposal includes a path to citizenship for many DREAMers […]

Freshman Veronica Escobar and her hometown on the front lines of the border battle

Veronica Escobar, a freshman Democrat, made history along with Rep. Sylvia Garcia, also Democrat, in the 2018 midterm elections by becoming the first two Latinas elected to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Since Escobar arrived in Washington, El Paso has become an epicenter of Trump’s immigration battle. Beyond erecting thicker, higher and more […]

Castro’s 2020 campaign focused on Latinos, but needs broader appeal to win

With more than a dozen Democrats now vying for president, Julian Castro is charting a path unlike any of the others, as his visit to California yesterday made clear. The former San Antonio mayor and Housing secretary under President Obama took questions from a Chicano studies class at UCLA. He did a television interview with Univision […]

In a dueling rally, O’Rourke contradicts Trump’s border claims

Last night Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) sought to counter President Trump’s claims about immigrants and border walls, arguing that his hometown of El Paso is “safe not because of walls but in spite of walls.” “With the eyes of the country upon us, all of you together are going to make our stand in […]

Lawmakers sending mixed signals as a second shutdown is nearby

The president, congressional negotiators and other lawmakers are sending conflicting signals about whether a deal to fund border security and avoid another government shutdown is possible before the Friday deadline. The Senate’s top Republican negotiator, Sen. Richard Shelby (Ala.), yesterday said the talks had stalled in part because Democrats were raising new concerns over deterring immigrants […]

Democratic congresswomen commemorated migrant girl who died in U.S. Custody at SOTU

Several freshmen Democratic congresswomen wore pins to the State of the Union address honoring Jakelin Caal Maquin, the 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who died in the custody of Border Patrol back in December. “We are bringing Jakelin Caal into the room with us during the #SOTU,” Rashida Tlaib tweeted before the speech. “They said 12,800 children are […]

In SOTU response, Xavier Becerra says he is prepared to challenge Trump once again

California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra warned in a national televised address last night that he is prepared to take President Trump to court if he declares a national emergency to fund a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border while cutting federal funds to fire-damaged communities in this state. Becerra delivered the remarks as part of the Democrats’ […]

Democrats offer includes money for border security, but not for a wall

Congressional Democrats’ opening offer in the conference committee negotiations over border security includes money for new customs agents, technology, and humanitarian relief but not a penny for a border wall. It’s an offer President Trump is certain to refuse. In a series of tweets Thursday, the president explained that congressional Republicans are “wasting their time” talking with […]

Xavier Becerra to deliver Spanish-language SOTU response

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) was chosen yesterday to give the Spanish-language Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union speech on Feb. 5. “I’m looking forward to addressing my fellow Americans on a day when truth, candor and unity should be the order of the day,” Becerra said in a statement. Becerra, a […]