Joaquin Castro

Congressman Castro Leads Group of 30 Lawmakers in Demanding End to Ambiguity in Israel’s Nuclear Capabilities | U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro

Position: The lawmakers demand that the U.S. Department of State require Israel to disclose its nuclear capabilities with the same transparency standards applied to other nations, arguing that Congress needs full information about the nuclear balance in the Middle East to fulfill its constitutional oversight responsibilities and develop coherent nonproliferation policy.

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, led a group of 30 House Democrats in demanding the U.S. Department of State hold Israel to the same standard as other countries and provide transparency on Israels’ nuclear capabilities, ending decades-long ambiguity. This request, amid the ongoing Iran War, would fulfill Congress’ constitutional responsibility to be fully informed about the nuclear balance in the Middle East and pave the way for coherent nonproliferation policy. The lawmakers raised questions about the ambiguous U.S. policy regarding Israel’s nuclear capabilities while engaging in war alongside Israel against Iran, writing, “We are in the fullest sense, fighting this war side by side with a country whose potential nuclear weapons program the United States government officially refuses to acknowledge. American service members continue to be deployed throughout the region. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to be fully informed about the nuclear balance in the Middle East, the risk of escalation by any party to this conflict, and the administration's planning and contingencies for such scenarios. We do not believe we have received that information.” The lawmakers concluded by demanding the U.S. apply its nonproliferation standards equally, writing, “We cannot develop coherent nonproliferation policy for the Middle East, including with respect to Iran's civil nuclear program and Saudi Arabia's civil nuclear ambitions, while maintaining a policy of official silence about the nuclear weapons capabilities of one party central to the ongoing conflict in which the United States is a direct participant. We ask that you hold Israel to the same standard of transparency that the United States expects from any other country that may be pursuing or retaining nuclear weapons capability.” Members who signed the letter include: Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Mark Pocan (D-WI), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL), Al Green (D-TX), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-VA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Adelita S. Grijalva (D-AZ), Summer L. Lee (D-PA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Emily Randall (D-WA), Becca Balint (D-VT), Val Hoyle (D-OR), John Garamendi (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ). The full letter is available here.

Castro and Kaine Statement on Guatemala’s Attorney General Selection | U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro

Skip to Content Close Nav Modal Meet Joaquin Biography Our District Issues Sponsored Legislation Voting Record Committees and Caucuses Legislative Process Constituent Services Help with a Federal Agency Tours and Tickets Flag Requests Passports FY27 Community Project Funding Disclosure FY2027 Appropriations Requests Resources for Veterans and Military Families Resources for Senior Citizens Resources and Programs for Students Internships Resources for Parents Resources for Businesses Grants Congressional Art Competition Contact Email Me Offices Request an Appearance Newsletter Subscribe Website Problem Media Center News from Congressman Castro In The News Close SEARCH Instagram Logo BlueSky Logo Twitter Logo Facebook Logo Threads Logo Youtube Logo Newsletter Sign-Up Meet Joaquin Biography Our District Issues Sponsored Legislation Voting Record Committees and Caucuses Legislative Process Constituent Services Help with a Federal Agency Tours and Tickets Flag Requests Passports FY27 Community Project Funding Disclosure FY2027 Appropriations Requests Resources for Veterans and Military Families Resources for Senior Citizens Resources and Programs for Students Internships Resources for Parents Resources for Businesses Grants Congressional Art Competition Contact Email Me Offices Request an Appearance Newsletter Subscribe Website Problem Media Center News from Congressman Castro In The News Search Modal Button MENU April 23, 2026 Castro and Kaine Statement on Guatemala’s Attorney General Selection WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues, released the following statement on Guatemala’s Attorney General Selection:   “We are glad to see the Attorney General selection process in Guatemala is moving forward, with the nomination of six candidates for Guatemala's President Bernardo Arévalo to choose from. “Guatemala deserves the opportunity to move on from their current Attorney General, Consuelo Porras, who has been sanctioned by dozens of countries including the United States for corruption. “President Arévalo must be free to choose from the nominee list as required by law.”   Spanish: “Nos alegra ver que el proceso de selección del Fiscal General en Guatemala esté avanzando, con la nominación de seis candidatos para que el Presidente de Guatemala Bernardo Arévalo elija.   “Guatemala merece la oportunidad de continuar sin su actual Fiscal General, Consuelo Porras, quien ha sido sancionada por decenas de países, incluidos los Estados Unidos, por cargos de corrupción.   “El Presidente Arévalo debe tener la libertad de elegir de la lista de candidatos según lo exige la ley.” Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article

Castro, Jayapal, Jackson, Meeks Demand Answers on State Department Obstruction of Oversight in Cuba | U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro

Position: The representatives express concern that the State Department has restricted House Foreign Affairs Committee members from meeting with embassy officials during a congressional delegation to Cuba, arguing this violates legislative-executive cooperation norms and may reflect an attempt to block oversight of U.S. policy toward Cuba.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, are demanding answers from the State Department after Jayapal and Jackson were denied the ability to meet with Chargé d’Affaires Mike Hammer at the U.S. Embassy in Havana during a Congressional delegation. “Congressional delegations rely on the support and engagement of U.S. embassy personnel to better understand local conditions, assess policy impacts, and ensure that our diplomatic efforts align with broader national interests,” wrote the Members. “We write to express deep concern that the State Department has ostensibly prohibited officials at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba from engaging with members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee traveling to Cuba on official business to conduct oversight regarding the impacts of U.S. policy on the Cuban people. Such a directive represents a troubling departure from long-standing norms of cooperation between the legislative and executive branches in the conduct of American foreign policy.” “Given the ongoing negotiations between the Trump Administration and the Cuban government and threats from President Trump to ‘take’ Cuba, denying members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee access to embassy officials sends a troubling message that the Administration is attempting to block voices that disagree with it,” continued the Members. The full text of the letter can be read here. The letter was also signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Members, Representatives Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Ted W. Lieu (CA-36).

Castro, Casten, Van Hollen, Kaine Demand Transparency from Trump Administration on United States-Venezuela Energy Deal | U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro

Position: The lawmakers demand transparency and independent congressional oversight of the Trump Administration's energy deal with Venezuela, citing concerns about lack of anti-corruption controls, unclear fund management, and potential national security implications.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) are demanding transparency from the Trump Administration on its energy deal with Venezuela, an unprecedented attempt to seize control of a sovereign nation’s natural resources. The members are pressing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a full audit of this deal. The lawmakers underscored that President Trump’s executive order gives his administration unprecedented authority over Venezuelan oil supply, writing, “This gives senior Trump Administration officials sweeping discretion over how the Venezuelan oil funds will be spent and it is unclear whether the appropriate anti-corruption and anti-money laundering controls exist to ensure that the funds are not enabling the illicit drug trade and other criminal activities in Venezuela.” The lawmakers criticized the lack of oversight of the deal, writing, “Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that no formal audit agreement was in place, but his agency plans to engage outside auditors to review future payments. This lack of a defined oversight mechanism, combined with the arrangement's significant scale and its national security and foreign policy implications, warrants independent congressional oversight.” They concluded by requesting a GAO audit and that the “scope of the review cover both the period of time that the funds were routed to accounts in Qatar, the current arrangement for funds to be routed to U.S. accounts controlled by the Treasury Department, and any other successor mechanism utilized by the Administration to facilitate the sale of Venezuelan oil, custody of these assets, and disbursement of these funds.” In part, the lawmakers are requesting that the GAO audit include: A full accounting of the agencies, employees, and contractors involved in the deal. A full account of the financial structure of the arrangement, including how proceeds are dispersed and the financial executives who stand to benefit. Potential areas for fraud, waste, abuse, and conflicts of interest. Read the full details of the audit and the full letter here.

Castro Statement on Trump’s Funding Request for Iran War | U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro

Position: Congressman Castro opposes the president's $350 billion funding request for military operations against Iran, arguing the war was initiated without congressional authorization, based on false premises about an imminent threat, and has resulted in significant strategic failures and rising costs to American households.

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement: “The president is asking for an extra $350 billion for his reckless war against Iran. “I will vote not to fund this illegal war, and will vote no. “The president started this war under false pretenses and without congressional authorization. He claimed that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States. It didn't. They did not have a weapon that could strike the United States and there was no indication that they were going to target us. “Over the last month, President Trump's disastrous Iran War has turned into one of the biggest national security blunders in the last generation. Iran has been able to effectively close the Straits of Hormuz, where 20 percent of the world's oil and significant amounts of fertilizer and other critical products flow through. “Americans everywhere are facing higher gas prices and grocery bills. “I am alarmed by rising American casualties, the destruction of critical military equipment, the rapidly depleting stocks of munitions, and the attacks on civilian targets in Iran. “I am most alarmed by the President's consideration of a significant ground invasion that will only cost more American lives and commit another generation of Americans to a regime change war in the Middle East. “Even countries like Israel, which are actually directly threatened by Iran, are not willing to send ground troops into Iran. The United States should not either. “Rather than immediately ending this war, which he never should have started, by negotiating a ceasefire and a diplomatic agreement to re-open the Straits of Hormuz, the President is asking Americans to pay for it by cutting services they rely on like Medicaid and Medicare. “A vote to fund this illegal war is a vote for this illegal war. I will vote no.”

Reps. Castro, Kim Advance Bill Out of Committee to Counter China’s Growing Influence | U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro

Position: The representatives support legislation that would direct the State Department to provide technical assistance to U.S. allies and partners to help them screen foreign investment and protect their economies from hostile foreign investment, particularly from China.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Young Kim’s (CA-40) Securing Partner Supply Chains Act, which helps U.S. allies and partners build the tools to protect their economies from hostile foreign investment, passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) with bipartisan support. “The United States has spent decades building robust tools to screen foreign investment for national security risks — but many of our partner countries have not, and that gap is being exploited by countries like China,” said Congressman Castro. “The bipartisan Securing Partner Supply Chains Act directs the State Department to give our partners the technical assistance and training they need to build their own investment screening tools and protect their sovereignty.” “The Chinese Communist Party is using investment as a weapon to infiltrate and control America’s most critical supply chains,” said East Asia and Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim. “This bill gives our allies the tools they need to block malign foreign investment, protect their economic sovereignty, and reduce dependence on Beijing. If we want secure and resilient supply chains, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners to push back on the CCP’s coercion.” The bill directs the State Department to establish a three-year initiative on Foreign Investment Screening to protect partners and allies from China’s growing interest in strategic sectors like critical minerals, energy, and telecommunications. View the full text of the Securing Partner Supply Chains Act here.

Castro, Garcia, Ramirez, Krishnamoorthi Slam ICE for Targeting Dreamers | U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro

Position: The members oppose DHS targeting and arresting DACA recipients who have complied with program requirements and committed no crimes, arguing that such enforcement diverts resources from genuine public safety threats and contradicts the program's vetting standards.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) are calling out the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the unlawful and targeted arrests of recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), commonly known as Dreamers, under the Trump Administration. In the letter sent to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the members highlight Dreamers’ contributions to society, writing, “More than 530,000 individuals currently maintain active DACA protections nationwide. These young people live, work, and raise families in communities across our country… DACA recipients are screened for public safety concerns and are re-vetted every two years to maintain their status. However, recent communications from your department show a troubling pattern of DHS targeting DACA recipients.” The members underscored an emerging pattern in which DHS targets Dreamers who have not committed any crime, writing, “DHS targeting and detaining DACA individuals who have complied with every requirement of the program leads us to believe that federal resources are not being directed towards genuine public safety threats. DACA recipients contribute to communities in every corner of America. They are starting families, teaching our children, caring for our sick, and strengthening the communities they have called home their entire lives.” The members concluded by pointing out the agency’s contradictory figures on DACA arrests, writing, “DHS has provided Congress with contradictory figures on DACA arrests, calling into question the integrity of the agency's record-keeping…It is unclear how ICE arrested more DACA recipients in a nine-month window when compared to an eleven-month window. These inconsistent figures raise serious concerns about the accuracy and reliability of DHS’s reporting to Congress and warrant additional clarification.”

Castro Statement on Iran Strikes | U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro

Position: Congressman Castro opposes U.S. military strikes against Iran, arguing they represent an unauthorized war that lacks congressional approval and repeats the failures of past Middle East interventions. He calls for an immediate congressional vote on a War Powers Resolution to halt the military action.

San Antonio, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement: “Rather than making life affordable for American families, the President has decided to drag our country into yet another war in the Middle East. “For 25 years, a generation of American servicemembers and their families have sacrificed in pursuit of regime change wars in the Middle East. Successive Presidents have tried to use military force to remake societies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen. In each case, the United States was not able to predict the consequences of our actions and in each case, it resulted in disaster. “Instead of taking these lessons to heart, the President has asked yet another generation of Americans to sacrifice in the hope that, this time, it will be different. “Make no mistake, this war may be in the interest of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel — but it is not in ours. “Since I got to Congress 14 years ago, where I have served on the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Armed Services Committees, we have constantly been told that Iran is days away from achieving nuclear capability. Rather than support a negotiated agreement to contain Iran’s nuclear program, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu ripped up President Obama’s nuclear deal so they could continue to use the threat of a nuclear Iran to wage this war that Americans are being asked to fight in. “This war is being conducted without legal authorization, or consultation with the Congress. When the Congress returns to Washington, we must immediately vote on the War Powers Resolution to stop this war that the American people did not vote for and do not want."

Congressman Castro Demands Full Disclosure from ICE and Texas DPS Regarding Fatal Shooting of U.S. Citizen Ruben Ray Martinez | U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro

Position: Congressman Castro is demanding full disclosure and transparency from ICE and Texas DPS regarding the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Ruben Ray Martinez, indicating concern about law enforcement accountability and potential civil rights violations.

Skip to Content Close Nav Modal Meet Joaquin Biography Our District Issues Sponsored Legislation Voting Record Committees and Caucuses Legislative Process Constituent Services Help with a Federal Agency Tours and Tickets Flag Requests Passports FY27 Community Project Funding Disclosure FY2027 Appropriations Requests Resources for Veterans and Military Families Resources for Senior Citizens Resources and Programs for Students Internships Resources for Parents Resources for Businesses Grants Congressional Art Competition Contact Email Me Offices Request an Appearance Newsletter Subscribe Website Problem Media Center News from Congressman Castro In The News Close SEARCH Instagram Logo BlueSky Logo Twitter Logo Facebook Logo Threads Logo Youtube Logo Newsletter Sign-Up Meet Joaquin Biography Our District Issues Sponsored Legislation Voting Record Committees and Caucuses Legislative Process Constituent Services Help with a Federal Agency Tours and Tickets Flag Requests Passports FY27 Community Project Funding Disclosure FY2027 Appropriations Requests Resources for Veterans and Military Families Resources for Senior Citizens Resources and Programs for Students Internships Resources for Parents Resources for Businesses Grants Congressional Art Competition Contact Email Me Offices Request an Appearance Newsletter Subscribe Website Problem Media Center News from Congressman Castro In The News Search Modal Button MENU February 27, 2026 Congressman Castro Demands Full Disclosure from ICE and Texas DPS Regarding Fatal Shooting of U.S. Citizen Ruben Ray Martinez For Nearly a Year, ICE and DPS Concealed an ICE Shooting That Left 23-Year-Old Ruben Dead in South Padre Island, Texas   WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a new letter, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) demanded full disclosure from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) related to the shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez on March 25, 2025—the first publicly known instance of an ICE agent fatally shooting a U.S. citizen during the second Trump Administration.   “For nearly a year, your agencies appeared to have participated in a cover up. Mr. Martinez’s life was tragically cut short, and his family deserves a full and complete understanding of the events leading up to his death. Mr. Martinez should not have died, and your agencies must be fully transparent about the circumstances surrounding his death,” wrote Congressman Castro.   Castro continued by highlighting the effort to withhold information from the victim’s family and the public, adding, “The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Department of Homeland Security withheld basic information, concealed the fact that an ICE agent shot Mr. Martinez, and advanced a narrative that is disputed by an eyewitness.”   Congressman Castro is requesting the immediate release of all body-camera and dash-camera footage, along with any radio, text, or phone communications from officers before and after the shooting. He is also demanding all records related to the DPS and DHS investigations, including all communications between DPS, the Texas Rangers, and ICE. To read the full letter, click here. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article

Congressman Castro Announces SOTU Guest Dr. Anita K. Patel, MD to Highlight Harms of ICE Detaining Children | U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro

Position: Congressman Castro opposes ICE detention of children and calls for their release, citing inadequate medical care and psychological trauma. He characterizes current immigration enforcement as a 'cruel mass deportation campaign' causing harm to detained children.

Dr. Anita K. Patel, MD Will Highlight Concerning Medical Conditions in ICE Detention Centers and the Right to Quality Medical Care WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that his guest for the president’s 2026 State of the Union address will be Dr. Anita K. Patel, MD, critical care specialist and associate professor of pediatrics in Washington, D.C. With over 16 years of experience, Dr. Patel has advocated for delivering adequate treatment, recommendations and guidance for parents facing medical challenges with their children. Most recently, she has used her social media platform and medical expertise to bring attention to the inadequate medical care children and mothers face in ICE detention centers. “Hundreds of innocent children are being imprisoned because of the Trump Administration’s cruel mass deportation campaign,” said Congressman Castro. “I have seen firsthand the physical toll and psychological trauma that being in places like the Dilley trailer prison has on children and babies as young as two months old. My guest to the State of the Union address, Dr. Anita K Patel, has used her platform to shed light on the brutal stories of medical neglect and abuse at ICE detention facilities and will continue to help make the case that we must free our children from these horrors.” “ICE’s aggressive tactics on our children and the communities they live in will have lasting consequences,” said Dr. Anita K. Patel, MD. “The body remembers trauma and the lack of access to quality medical care is compounding harm on our children. I am honored to join Congressman Castro for the State of the Union address to share my experience as a pediatrician and shed light on these horrifying stories. We demand immediate action to keep our children safe and protect their future.”