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Pending vote119-hr-5282
Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2025
To prohibit the disclosure of records by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of individuals for the purposes of immigration enforcement, and for other purposes.
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Crossing the aisle
Passage votes where Sylvia R. Garcia broke ranks with ≥75% of Democrats. Threshold catches substantively partisan splits; unanimous-ish or close votes are excluded.
Rep. Garcia, Leader Jeffries, and Rep. Menefee Join Houston Workers to Highlight How ICE's Reign of Terror is Worsening the Affordability Crisis
Position: Representatives argue that aggressive federal immigration enforcement is harming Houston's economy, worsening affordability, and creating fear among workers and communities, and call for enforcement that treats people with dignity. Speakers call for ICE to be removed from communities.
HOUSTON, TX — Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Congressman Christian Menefee (TX-18), and SEIU Texas President Elsa Flores held a press conference following a closed-door roundtable with Houston workers, business owners, and community advocates on how the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement is hurting Houston’s economy and driving fear across communities.
Held at SEIU Texas headquarters in Houston’s East End, the roundtable brought together representatives from SEIU Texas, UNITE HERE, Workers Defense Project, FIEL Houston, and local hotel and restaurant owners. Participants discussed how fear of ICE enforcement is keeping workers from their jobs, discouraging customers from visiting businesses, and putting additional financial strain on working families.
“Make no mistake, this is an affordability issue,” said Congresswoman Garcia. “When workers are afraid to show up for work, families lose paychecks. When customers are afraid to leave their homes, restaurants and small businesses lose money. And when construction workers are afraid to go to a job site, homes will not get built. We can enforce our immigration system while treating people with dignity and respect.”
“Everything has become more expensive here in America because of Donald Trump’s failed and toxic policies. We were promised by this administration that they were going to focus on violent felons. They targeted law-abiding immigrant families. They lied to the American people,” said Democratic Leader Jeffries. “Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not to brutalize and kill them. House Democrats are committed to ending ICE’s reign of terror and bringing comprehensive change to our immigration system.”
“Immigrants in Houston are not 'other.' They're not 'and.' These are Houstonians. These are people who belong to our community as much as anybody else,” said Congressman Menefee. “We’re going to fight alongside Congresswoman Garcia every single day in Congress to make sure that they know that immigration in this country should recognize people’s dignity and humanity, and not brutalize them every single day in the streets.”
“We now have a workforce that is fearful of going to work every day, because we all know that ICE has been picking up workers, people who are working-class people,” said SEIU Texas President Elsa Flores. “They’re not picking up people who are criminals in this country, which is what this administration has said they were going to do. We need ICE out of our communities.”
The full press conference can be found HERE.
Issues:
Economy and Labor
Immigration
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Joins Field Hearing in Austin to Examine ICE Shootings Across Texas
Position: Calls for greater transparency and accountability from ICE regarding shootings involving federal immigration agents, and says federal agents should operate under basic law enforcement standards.
AUSTIN, T.X. — Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) joined Democratic Members of Congress for a field hearing in Austin to examine shootings involving federal immigration agents across Texas and demand greater transparency and accountability from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The hearing was led by Congressman Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS-02), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement.
Also participating were Representatives Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA-02), Lou Correa (D-CA-46), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), and Al Green (D-TX-09).
The hearing examined incidents involving federal immigration agents, including the July 7 killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, the killing of Ruben Ray Martinez, and the recent shooting of Wilber Garcés-Pérez in Austin.
The Members of Congress were joined by witnesses Ms. Rachel Reyes, mother of Ruben Ray Martinez, Kristin Etter, Director of Policy & Legal Services at the Texas Immigration Law Council, Carolina Rivera Nelson, Attorney at the ACLU of Texas, and Danny Woodward, Policy Attorney with Texas Civil Rights Project.
"Trump promised to go after the worst of the worst. But judging by what we're seeing across Texas and the country, that sounds more like ICE's recruitment strategy. People are being shot, injured, and killed by federal agents operating without basic law enforcement standards or accountability," said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. "In Houston, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed on his way to work. One hundred days later, his family still has no answers. Instead, they've been met with stonewalling and excuses. These families deserve the truth and justice, and we will not stop fighting until they get both."
Video of the full hearing can be viewed HERE.
Reps. Garcia, Pingree, Casar Call for Accountability After Three ICE Shootings and Body Camera Failures
Position: The Representatives call on DHS and ICE to explain repeated failures to use body cameras during fatal shootings by immigration agents, and demand that every immigration enforcement officer have a working, properly used body camera and that the public be given transparency and accountability.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), and Greg Casar (D-TX-35), today sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director David J. Venturella calling for answers and accountability following three Immigration and Customs Enforcement shootings in their congressional districts where agents failed to wear body cameras.
Read the full letter HERE.
The Members point to the shootings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas; Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine; and Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin, Texas. In the latest case, Garces Perez was shot in the back by an ICE agent in Austin on September 20. The agent had been issued a body camera but was not wearing it. A second agent was wearing a camera, but it did not capture the shooting.
The repeated failures come despite significant funding from Congress. Earlier this year, Congress appropriated $20 million specifically for procuring, deploying, and operating body-worn cameras for federal immigration enforcement officers.
That is on top of an unprecedented increase in funding for ICE. Congress provided ICE roughly $75 billion in supplemental funding in 2025, followed by another $38.5 billion in 2026 through the Secure America Act.
“ICE is not short on money. Congress has provided billions of dollars to this agency, and after Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed in my district, we were told body cameras were coming. The money is there. The deadlines have passed. So why does this keep happening?” said Congresswoman Garcia. “This is completely unacceptable. When federal agents use deadly force, the public should not be left in the dark. There must be transparency, accountability, and answers for the families who are left behind. Lorenzo’s family deserves answers. They deserve justice. DHS and ICE need to explain why their body camera system keeps failing when it matters most.”
“Over and over again, we’ve seen DHS agents resort to deadly violence when conducting enforcement operations in our districts. And when we demand to see the body cam footage, they give us the same tired excuses. No more,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “The fact that DHS has failed to outfit its officers with body cameras—despite having hundreds of billions of dollars at its disposal and more than a year to procure and deploy this equipment—is totally unacceptable. There is simply no reason that a federal agency with more money than most countries’ entire GDPs is not held to the same standards as local law enforcement. We deserve the truth about why cameras weren’t deployed during these most recent shootings, including the one that took the life of my constituent, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, in Biddeford, Maine on July 13. Our demands are simple: Every immigration enforcement officer must have a working body camera, must be properly trained on how to use it, and be held accountable when that camera isn’t used.”
"Wilber Garces Perez was shot in the back in Austin by an ICE agent who wasn't wearing a body camera, weeks after DHS promised every officer in the field would have one," said Congressman Casar. "Secretary Mullin keeps making promises while his agents keep shooting people. Secretary Mullin must release every second of footage from that scene, so we can know the truth.”
The letter also points to commitments DHS made following the July 7 killing of Salgado Araujo in Houston. During a July 15 phone call with Congresswoman Garcia, Secretary Mullin said all federal immigration officers would have body-worn cameras within 45 to 60 days. That deadline passed in September.
Salgado Araujo, a Houston construction worker and father of three, was killed without available body camera footage capturing the shooting. Days later, ICE fatally shot 25-year-old Colombian national Johan Sebastian Durán Guerrero. Agents involved in Guerrero’s shooting were also not wearing body cameras. Then, on September 20, Garces Perez was shot in Austin by an officer who had been issued a camera but was not wearing it.
Members are demanding DHS and ICE explain whether all federal immigration officers have been issued working body cameras and properly trained to use them. They also ask why the officer who shot Garces Perez was not wearing his issued camera, why the second officer’s camera failed to capture the shooting, whether other footage exists, and whether officers who fail to follow body camera rules will face disciplinary action.
The Members requested written answers from DHS and ICE by October 14, 2026.
Issues:
Immigration
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Demands Justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo on House Floor
Position: Calls for an independent investigation into the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent, release of all evidence, and accountability for the agency's conduct in the incident.
WASHINGTON, D.C — Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) spoke on the House floor to demand answers and accountability for the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a father of three who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Houston on July 7, 2026.
WATCH Congresswoman Garcia's full remarks HERE.
Full remarks:
Mr. Speaker, I'm here to speak about a killing in my district on July the seventh. An ICE agent shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, an unarmed man with no criminal record, who was not even the target of their investigation.
He was headed to a construction job when ICE aggressively pursued his van in unmarked vehicles, no sirens, no body cameras, no dash cameras. Just two unmarked cars following them.
Then an ICE agent fired through the open passenger-side window where Mr. Lorenzo's brother was sitting and killed him.
Afterward, came the same disgraceful playbook we saw after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
They claimed Mr. Lorenzo, who was the driver, had weaponized his vehicle, and that an agent had acted in self-defense. But I spoke directly with two of the men inside that van. They tell me ICE never identified themselves, never gave commands, and no agent was ever in front of the van.
Then, in an added layer of cruelty, DHS, the Department of Homeland Security, released Mr. Salgado's name publicly before notifying his family.
I was at the hospital when his son had to learn through Facebook that his father was dead. It was sickening. It was disheartening. It was despicable.
Days later, DHS tried to smear Mr. Lorenzo even further by suggesting that drugs had been found in the van. It was not drugs. It was a homemade electrolyte mix workers use to survive the Texas heat.
This is an outrageous abuse of government power.
ICE pursued the wrong van and killed an unarmed man who wasn't their target and had no criminal record.
And now we are expected to trust DHS to investigate itself. That's laughable. Absolutely not. No way.
We need a real independent investigation. We need all evidence released, and we need real accountability.
And we need the truth about what happened to Mr. Salgado.
His family deserves the truth.
The public deserves accountability.
We need justice for Mr. Salgado, and we need justice for all those killed at the hands of ICE, or those in the custody of ICE.
We demand accountability, and as the gentle lady has said, we need real justice for all.
Texas Democrats Demand Gov. Abbott Act on Extradition of ICE Agent Charged in Minneapolis Shooting
Position: Representatives Garcia and Gonzalez urge Governor Abbott to sign extradition paperwork so that criminal proceedings can proceed against ICE agent Christian J. Castro, who is charged in connection with a January 2026 shooting in Minneapolis.
WASHINGTON, D.C — Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) and Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34) led Texas Democrats in demanding that Texas Governor Greg Abbott authorize the extradition of Christian J. Castro, an ICE agent charged in connection with a January shooting during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Castro is accused of firing into a home, shooting Venezuelan immigrant Julio C. Sosa-Celis in the leg, and later lying about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Castro, 52, was arrested in South Texas on May 29, 2026, after a warrant was issued in Hennepin County. He remains in custody in Cameron County, Texas. Castro is charged with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.
“The Texas Rangers and the prosecuting authority in Cameron County have done their jobs and collaborated with the necessary Minnesota authorities,” the lawmakers said in a letter to Abbott.
“The last step to begin the long-awaited court proceedings for the victims is for you to sign the paperwork. Mr. Castro has already been in custody for two months, and the paperwork, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, is in order. There is no reason to delay,” the lawmakers wrote.
“When an ICE agent is charged with shooting into a home and lying about what happened, the answer cannot be delay or special treatment. We have watched this administration’s out-of-control immigration enforcement turn deadly, while official accounts unravel as the facts come out,” said Congresswoman Garcia. “We saw it in Minneapolis and Maine, and we are seeing it here in Houston as we demand the truth about ICE’s killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Governor Abbott should sign the extradition paperwork and let the justice system do its job.”
“Texans are firm believers in law and order, which is why accountability must be delivered in the case of Christian J. Castro. Governor Abbott has an immediate responsibility to uphold the extradition process and not interfere with our nation’s justice system. We cannot normalize criminal actions, including those committed by rogue ICE agents under this Administration’s hyperaggressive immigration policies,” said Congressman Gonzalez.
The charges stem from a Jan. 14, 2026, immigration enforcement operation in north Minneapolis. Prosecutors allege Castro and other ICE agents pursued Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna to the home he shared with Sosa-Celis. After both men made it inside, Castro allegedly fired through the closed front door, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg. The bullet traveled through the home and lodged in the wall of a child’s bedroom.
DHS initially claimed the officer fired in self-defense after being attacked by the men. But surveillance video and other evidence contradicted key parts of that account.
The full letter can be viewed HERE.
Issues:
Immigration
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Launches Discharge Petition to Force Vote on American Dream and Promise Act
Position: The release supports forcing a House floor vote on the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 1589) via a discharge petition, and supports providing Dreamers and eligible TPS and DED holders with a pathway to citizenship or lawful permanent resident status.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), with the support of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Democratic Leadership, officially announced and signed her discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote on the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 1589).
The American Dream and Promise Act would provide eligible Dreamers, undocumented individuals who were brought into the U.S. as children, with an earned pathway to citizenship and allow eligible recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to obtain lawful permanent resident status.
A discharge petition allows a majority of House members to go around Republican leadership when it refuses to bring a bill to the floor. If 218 members sign the petition, they can force the House to vote on the American Dream and Promise Act.
“This is not a warning about what might happen. Dreamers are losing their jobs, being detained, and being deported right now. Temporary Protected Status holders who have lived here for decades are being told to prepare to leave. Congress has the power to stop this, and there is no excuse for hiding behind Speaker Johnson while families are torn apart,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. “The overwhelming majority of Americans support a path to citizenship for Dreamers. So I am calling on my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to listen to their constituents. Sign the petition. Force the vote. Put these protections into law.”
“Donald Trump's hateful policies are creating a climate of fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities. Holders of Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure are some of our most vulnerable neighbors who have fled natural disasters and political violence. It is inhumane and economically disruptive to force these immigrants who have built lives in the U.S. to abruptly leave," said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez. "I'm proud my legislation, the Promise Act, is included in H.R. 1589 as it will provide these individuals with protection from deportation and a path to citizenship. TPS holders have endured tremendous pain and uncertainty under this Administration, and I ask my colleagues to join us in discharging this bill to provide a glimmer of hope to our migrant communities”
"For decades, Dreamers, TPS holders, and DED beneficiaries have only given to this nation. They bind our communities together, contribute to our economy, and embody everything that each American should strive to be, all while asking nothing in return but their opportunity to reach the American Dream. While America has changed much over the years, they have remained among the best it has to offer. They will always be our neighbors, and not just numbers to cruelly fuel Donald Trump’s deportation machine," said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. "I urge my colleagues to sign the discharge petition and put Congress on the path towards passing the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act, because these true Americans deserve permanent protection from the country they have shown only love, and not ceaseless threats from those who know only hate."
"Dreamers didn't choose how they got here, but they chose what to do once they arrived. They studied, they worked, they served, they built. America is the only home they've ever known. Yet for years, they’ve had to live with a suitcase by the door, waiting for the next court ruling or the next president to decide their future," said Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar. "I signed the discharge petition because Congress needs to act. As a co-lead of the American Dream and Promise Act, I am proud to support legislation that gives these young men and women the dignity they have earned: certainty to build their future in the only country they've ever called home.”
"For a quarter century, the United States Congress has been debating how to do right by Dreamers. For a quarter century, justice has been blocked, delayed and swept under the rug. Congress has the power to end this unnecessary and cruel wait. Dream and Promise is as just as it is popular – this is what our morality demands and what voters want," said Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Rep. Adriano Espaillat. "There is no excuse. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to represent the will of the American people and sign on in support of the Dream and Promise Act."
“I am proud today and every day to stand with our Dreamers and TPS holders. For far too long, Dreamers had to live in the shadows – and have now become a target of Trump and Stephen Miller’s mass deportation campaign – despite many having lived and worked in the United States for nearly their entire lives," said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. "As the courts deal blow after blow to DACA and TPS, it has never been more urgent that we pass the Dream and Promise Act to provide a roadmap to citizenship to keep families together and protect Dreamers and TPS holders.”
"Dreamers, TPS holders, and DED beneficiaries are vital members of our communities. They are our students, teachers, workers, and neighbors who contribute to our country every day,” said Congresswoman Judy Chu. “For many, the United States is the only home they have truly known. To Trump, none of that matters. His mass deportation regime continues to put them in danger. A pathway to citizenship must be established for these individuals so they continue to contribute and thrive here in the United States. That is why I will be signing a discharge petition to ensure our bill, the American Dream and Promise Act, can pass the House immediately.”
"Dreamers are an essential part of our economy. They are our nurses, police officers, and soldiers. They follow the law, pay taxes, and have built their lives in this country—graduating from American schools, growing in their careers, and starting their families here in America," said Congressman Lou Correa. "They’re deeply embedded in the fabric of our communities. They’re our neighbors and friends, and are a part of the economic fabric of this great country. They have earned the opportunity to be Americans. It’s past time that Congress passed the American Dream and Promise Act and deliver an earned pathway to citizenship for Dreamers—to keep their families together and keep our economy alive."
“For decades, Dreamers and TPS holders, many here since the age of two, have been waiting for stability. They have grown up here, taken care of us and given so much to our communities, yet they're living in constant fear of being ripped away from the only home they know. The growing attacks of the Trump administration and the Supreme Court on Dreamers and immigrants make it clear how urgent it is for Congress to finally act. That is why I am proud to join Congresswoman Garcia and advocates in filing a discharge petition to bring the Dream and Promise Act for a vote," said Congresswoman Delia Ramirez. "Democrats and Republicans alike need to prove to every Dreamer and immigrant that we know they are part of the fabric of our nation and finally create their pathway to citizenship. Let's pass the Dream and Promise Act."
“Dreamers and TPS holders are our neighbors, essential workers, and community leaders. They help power key industries including construction, health care, agriculture, and child care. They are the parents of hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizen children, working to provide for their families and integral members of communities across the country,” said Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us. “The Supreme Court’s decision allowing the termination of TPS along with the administration's quiet, ongoing attacks on Dreamers – with and without DACA – means all of them are now at greater risk of deportation. We’re grateful for Congresswoman Garcia’s leadership on the Discharge Petition for the Dream and Promise Act to ensure Dreamers and TPS holders are able to keep living, working, and contributing to our country. Every Member who says they support Dreamers and TPS holders should sign the Discharge Petition.”
“The discharge petition exists for moments like the one we face today. In the span of just one week, our communities witnessed the devastating shootings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastian Guerrero. Two fathers whose lives ended in fear and whose deaths are a reminder of the 32 immigrants who have died at the hands of ICE and CBP this year alone. Congress cannot continue offering condolences in one breath, while shoveling billions of taxpayer dollars to fuel these horrors in another," said Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Advocacy and Campaigns at United We Dream. "As immigration enforcement intensifies across the country and millions who live under temporary programs like DACA and TPS are pushed out of status and out of work, the American people know citizenship is the only solution to this chaos and pain. Every member has a clear responsibility: sign the discharge petition and bring the Dream & Promise Act to a vote."
Since President Trump returned to office, hundreds of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients have been detained, and at least 85 recipients without a criminal conviction and pending criminal charge have been deported, according to information provided by the Department of Homeland Security.
DACA recipients have also faced months-long delays in receiving renewals and work permits. Recipients who submitted their applications on time and followed every rule have lost their jobs, their income, and their ability to support their families while waiting for the government to act.
At the same time, the administration is terminating TPS protections for people from multiple countries, placing longtime residents at risk of losing their work authorization, separating families, and deporting them to countries facing humanitarian crises.
The American Dream and Promise Act would:
Allow eligible Dreamers who came to the United States as children to earn permanent legal status by meeting education, employment, or military service requirements.
Provide lawful permanent resident status to eligible TPS and DED recipients who have established their lives in the United States.
Require applicants to complete criminal and national security background checks.
Protect eligible applications from deportation while their cases are being considered.
Allow eligible Dreamers to pursue citizenship through the existing naturalization process.
Versions of the American Dream and Promise Act passed the House with bipartisan support in 2019 and 2021. The legislation has broad support from immigration advocates, labor unions, educators, businesses, faith groups, and communities across the country.
The American people support permanent protections. The legislation is ready. Members of Congress now have a choice: sign the petition and let the House vote.
Issues:
Immigration
Houston Democrats Demand Independent Investigation and Full Video Footage After ICE Officer Kills Lorenzo Salgado Araujo
Position: The release calls for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into an ICE officer's fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, demanding preserved evidence, unedited body camera and dash camera footage, and answers about the operation's legal authorization and conduct.
HOUSTON, T.X. – This week, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) Congressman Al Green (D-TX-09), Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), and Congressman Christian Menefee (D-TX-18) sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director David J. Venturella demanding an immediate, fully independent, and transparent investigation into the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent in Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood.
The full letter can be found HERE.
On Tuesday, July 7, an ICE officer shot Araujo during an immigration enforcement operation in the 6800 block of Canal Street. Araujo later died at the hospital. His family learned of his death through news reports and social media. Three men who were in the vehicle, including Araujo’s brother, remain detained.
In the letter, the Members demand that DHS and ICE provide written confirmation within 48 hours that all evidence related to Araujo’s killing and the detention of the three men has been preserved. They are also demanding the complete, unedited body camera footage from the agent who fired the fatal shot, complete and unedited body camera footage from every officer present, all dash camera footage from both ICE vehicles involved, and confirmation of whether DHS and ICE will work with state and local agencies in the investigation.
The Members are also demanding answers related to why Araujo was targeted, whether ICE had an administrative warrant, who authorized the operation, and how many federal officers were present. They are also demanding a full account of what led to the shooting, whether body cameras were activated, why Araujo’s name was released before his family was notified he was deceased, and what DHS and ICE are doing to prevent another tragedy.
“ICE killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in our community. Then his family had to find out through the news and social media. That is cruel. That is unacceptable. And DHS and ICE do not get to investigate themselves behind closed doors and call it accountability,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. “We are demanding the full truth, the full footage, and a real independent investigation. Lorezno’s family deserves answers. Houston deserves answers. And we will not let DHS or ICE bury this, stall for time, or hide behind the same tired lies.”
“My heart goes out to the family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Whenever deadly force is used by federal law enforcement, the American people deserve a complete, transparent, and independent examination of the facts. Public confidence in our institutions depends upon the willingness of government to subject itself to meaningful oversight,” said Congressman Al Green. “I have been in communication with the ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, the Honorable Bennie Thompson, and will keep him informed of any further developments, and have made a request for a congressional oversight hearing of the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo to address issues of transparency and accountability.”
“Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s family and our community deserve an independent investigation,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “Time and again, the Trump administration has asked us to accept its version of events without question, and time and again, it has broken that trust. Last year, Democrats called for real ICE accountability, including mandating stricter use-of-force standards. Congressional Republicans and President Trump refused. Had those reforms been in place, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo might be alive today. The troubling recent history makes clear that we cannot simply accept ICE’s version of events at face value. We deserve more, and I am joining my colleagues in the Houston Democratic Congressional Delegation in demanding more, starting with answers.”
"Houston has always been strengthened by its immigrant communities, including undocumented immigrants. The fear the Trump administration has created has already taken an immeasurable toll on families across the country. Now, that tragedy has reached our own community. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's death demands answers," said Congressman Christian Menefee. "Every piece of evidence, including body camera footage, witness statements, and any other relevant records, must be preserved, reviewed, and made available through a truly independent investigation. Lorenzo's family deserves the truth. The people of Houston deserve the truth. I stand firmly with my colleagues in continuing to demand full transparency and accountability until the facts are uncovered and those responsible are held accountable.”
Issues:
Immigration
Position: The release supports the Supreme Court's ruling upholding birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment and opposes the President's executive order seeking to end it.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court rejected President Trump's effort to end birthright citizenship:
"Today, the Supreme Court affirmed what the Fourteenth Amendment has made clear for more than 150 years: if you are born in the United States, you are a citizen. Period.
"Citizenship is not a favor handed out by a president. Donald Trump cannot erase that right with a Sharpie and an executive order simply because he does not like who a child’s parents are.
"I am relieved the Court rejected this unconstitutional power grab. But the fact that such an extreme attack reached the Supreme Court should concern everyone who values equal protection under the law.
"We must remain vigilant and continue to defend the Constitution against any president who believes he is above it."
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Condemns Supreme Court Decision Allowing Trump to Remove Protections for Temporary Protected Status Holders
Position: The release criticizes a Supreme Court ruling permitting the Trump administration to remove Temporary Protected Status protections, and calls on Congress to pass the American Dream and Promise Act to provide TPS holders with permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship.
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration in the Temporary Protected Status cases:
“Today, the Supreme Court gave the Trump administration a dangerous green light to strip legal protections from people who cannot safely return home.
“TPS holders followed the rules. They registered with the government, passed background checks, renewed their status, worked legally, paid taxes, and raised their families here.
“Their reward should not be a deportation notice.
“This decision could place TPS holders from countries around the world at risk and weaken the ability of courts to hold the government accountable.
“TPS holders are caregivers, workers, parents, and neighbors. Removing them would harm families, employers, seniors, and entire communities.
“Congress cannot sit by and watch. We must pass the American Dream and Promise Act and provide eligible TPS holders with permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship.”
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Joins Dreamers in Houston to Mark 14th Anniversary of DACA and Calls for Passage of American Dream and Promise Act
Position: Calls on Congress to pass the American Dream and Promise Act to provide permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, and criticizes the current administration's handling of DACA recipients.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) joined Dreamers, advocates, and national and local officials at Houston City Hall to mark the 14th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and call on Congress to pass the American Dream and Promise Act to provide permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought into the U.S. as children.
For 14 years, DACA has allowed Dreamers to work, study, support their families, and contribute to the only country many of them have ever called home. But DACA was never meant to be permanent, and Dreamers are now facing one of the most dangerous moments in the program’s history as the Trump administration escalates attacks on immigrant communities and DACA recipients.
Across the country, Dreamers are facing extreme processing delays, loss of work authorization, detentions, and deportations.
Congresswoman Garcia was joined by U.S. Representatives Al Green and Christian Menefee; Texas State Representative Christina Morales; Houston City Council Member Alejandra Salinas; DACA beneficiary Marco Antonio Cruz Linares; DACA beneficiary and FIEL Houston representative Wendy Flores; DACA beneficiary Daniel Banda; and Susana Duran, Houston Organizing Manager for the Workers Defense Action Fund.
"Most people do not wake up wondering if they'll be allowed to work tomorrow. Most people do not go to bed wondering if they'll be able to keep their driver's license and take their kids to school, but that is the reality Dreamers are living, and it's very real. Under this president, that uncertainty has become even more cruel. His administration is detaining and deporting Dreamers, delaying renewals, and creating gaps that are costing people their livelihoods," said Congresswoman Garcia.
"That is why I'm leading the American Dream and Promise Act. This bill would give Dreamers permanent protections and a real pathway to citizenship, and it would finally recognize what we already know: Dreamers are home, and they're here to stay," Garcia added.
"I'm proud to say that I am a co-sponsor of the American Dream and Promise Act, and I was a co-sponsor when it passed the House in the 117th Congress. I will continue to be a co-sponsor of this legislation because it will make a difference in the lives of young people who came to our country not of their own volition, but because they were brought here as children," said Congressman Green.
"America's immigration policy right now is inhumane. We have a president who has no problem admitting white immigrants from South Africa into this country. He has no problem admitting immigrants who look like the president and his family. But when we have immigrants from countries who have come here for generations, who have poured so much into our economy, who are our neighbors and friends, they are terrorized by ICE," said Congressman Menefee. "Immigration policy in this country should provide a pathway to citizenship for our Dreamers, for long-term residents, for people who are part of our communities and part of our economy, and we have to be fighting back as hard as we can against the inhumane practices we've seen from the Trump administration."
"I am an American in all but on paper. Thanks to DACA, I was able to obtain a good-paying job and earn a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Houston-Downtown. I also had the opportunity to intern in Congress," said Dreamer Marco Antonio Cruz Linares. "But on June 25, 2026, my DACA will expire. If my renewal is not approved by then, I will be placed on a 30-day leave of absence from my job. After those 30 days, I will lose my job and the income I use to support myself and my family. Because of this administration's policies toward DACA recipients, I could also face detention or deportation."
"This year has been especially difficult for many of us as we experience ongoing delays in our renewals, delays that create a constant mental battle and remind us how much of our lives remain outside our control. The uncertainty we face isn't just logistical; it weighs heavily on our mental well-being and our stability," said Dreamer Wendy Flores. "As we honor this anniversary, I want to leave people with hope for a future where opportunity is not temporary, where our lives are not lived in two-year increments, and where young immigrants are valued not for their status, but for their contributions, their strength, and their unwavering commitment to this country."
"I came to Texas when I was nine months old, and I've lived here my entire life. My DACA status lapsed on the first day of my last semester of college. In an instant, I had no income and no idea how I was going to finish school. The goals I had worked years to achieve suddenly seemed impossible," said Dreamer Daniel Banda. "Today, DACA is being dismantled piece by piece. This is a five-alarm fire. The only solution is a pathway to citizenship. Our lives, safety, and futures are not bargaining chips. We have waited long enough. Congress must pass the American Dream and Promise Act now."
"It's been 14 years since immigrant youth organized and won DACA protections, yet we're at the most vulnerable moment in DACA's history. DACA recipients and the families and communities who rely on them are at risk of family separation and deportation, but Congress has the power to stop this," said Susana Duran, Houston Organizing Manager for the Workers Defense Action Fund. "We applaud Congresswoman Garcia for her unrelenting support of the Dream and Promise Act. This legislation could deliver a pathway to citizenship that keeps our families, our workforce, our communities, and our cultures standing strong instead of dismantling them."
The American people overwhelmingly support action for Dreamers. A 2025 Gallup poll found that 85 percent of Americans support allowing Dreamers to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain requirements. With that level of public support, House leadership has no excuse to block this bill. Dreamers deserve an up-or-down vote, and every Member of Congress should have to say where they stand.
Dreamers also make major contributions to the American economy. They earn an estimated $76 billion in wages each year and pay nearly $24 billion annually in federal, state, and local payroll and income taxes.
The full press conference can be viewed here.
Issues:
Immigration
Source: GDELT 2.0 GKG, filtered to a curated list of national outlets. Inclusion is not endorsement; opinion pieces and reported news are mixed.
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Top PAC donors · 2026 cycle
Political action committees that gave the most to this rep's principal campaign committee this cycle. PAC giving is direct organizational support — industry, ideological, or leadership.
1.MACHINISTS NON PARTISAN POLITICAL LEAGUE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS &Labor2 contributionsTrade-union PAC for the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers — backs candidates supporting union organizing, prevailing wages, and aerospace manufacturing jobs.AI$10,000
2.FAIR SHOT PACIdeological2 contributionsProgressive-aligned PAC — backs candidates and causes focused on economic opportunity and reducing inequality.AI$10,000
3.EXXON MOBIL CORPORATION-MOBIL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE3 contributions$10,000
4.COURAGE TO CHANGE2 contributions$10,000
5.NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION PAC4 contributions$10,000
6.UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION ACTIVE BALLOT CLUBLabor3 contributionsTrade-union PAC for the United Food and Commercial Workers — backs candidates supporting union organizing, collective bargaining, worker protections, and labor-friendly workplace standards.AI$10,000
7.ERNST & YOUNG POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEFinance4 contributionsAccounting and professional-services PAC — supports candidates aligned with business-friendly tax policy, regulatory efficiency, and professional-services industry interests.AI$10,000
8.AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE4 contributions$10,000
9.AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION PACLabor5 contributionsTrade-union PAC for commercial airline pilots — backs candidates supporting pilot workplace protections, collective bargaining rights, and aviation safety standards.AI$9,000
10.LA BAMBA PAC2 contributions$7,500
Source: OpenFEC (api.open.fec.gov) Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “committee.” Aggregated by contributing committee. Self-transfers from joint-fundraising / victory committees are excluded.
Top individual contributors · 2026 cycle
Itemized individual contributions over $200 to this rep's campaign committee, aggregated by donor employer. PAC giving is shown above; this section is people, not organizations.
1.SELF$23,910
2.LANIER LAW FIRM$6,000
3.GONZALEZ & ASSOCIATES INC$5,000
4.STEPTOE LLP$5,000
5.THE GOODMAN CORPORATION$4,500
6.BAKER WOTRING LLP$3,500
7.AKIN GUMP$3,500
8.FORTHCOMING FUND$3,500
9.MAMACITA MEXICAN RESTAURANT$3,500
10.ISANI CONSULTANTS, LP$3,500
Source: OpenFEC Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “individual,” aggregated by the donor's self-reported employer. This is a geographic / industry correlation, not a corporate endorsement.
