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San Diego, CA (May 8, 2020) – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) released the following statement after visiting Otay Mesa Detention Center for the second time since the first initial COVID-19 cases were reported. The visit comes after the first reported coronavirus-related death in ICE Custody.
San Diego, CA (May 6, 2020) – Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) released the following statement after the first reported coronavirus-related death in ICE custody at the Otay Mesa Detention Center.
Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2020)– Rep. Vargas (CA-51) released the following statement in response to recent heavy rainstorms leaving several pumps in Tijuana, Baja California inoperable. The pumps, when operable, act as the first line of defense in preventing wastewater flowing into the United States.
Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2020) – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51), released the following statement after sending a letter, along with 24 other members of Congress, addressed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concerning the increase in COVID-19 cases within their facilities and alleged inhumane treatment of detainees.
Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2020) Rep. Vargas (CA-51) released the following statement after voting for an interim emergency funding package for small businesses, hospitals, and testing, that Congress passed today.
Chula Vista, CA (April 21, 2020) – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51), released the following statement after visiting Otay Mesa Detention Center to address the increase in COVID-19 cases within their facilities and alleged inhumane treatment of detainees.
Washington, D.C. (April 10, 2020) – Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) released the following statement after sending a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and CoreCivic, which manages the Otay Mesa Detention Center, in response to the San Diego Union-Tribune story that ICE is keeping detainees, potentially exposed to the virus, in a "cohort."
According to the article, the practice of cohorting forces detainees exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual to remain in the same pod until a 14-day period passes with no new cases.
Washington, D.C. (April 9, 2020) – Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) released the following statement after joining his colleagues to send a letter to the White House and Trump administration requesting that border wall construction come to a halt in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
"This week I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to the White House and the administration to stop all border wall construction in the best interest of construction workers, their families, and our border communities.
Washington, D.C. (April 7, 2020) – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) released the following statement after sending a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) asking them to report on measures implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their detention facilities, and requested the release of nonviolent detainees.
Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2020) Rep. Vargas released the following statement after the passage of historic Families and Workers-First legislation, which was signed into law today.
"I am proud to support this historic piece of legislation, which will bring urgently needed relief to families and small businesses across the nation, including in our great state of California. Our country is suffering from an unprecedented pandemic; we must ensure that every possible resource is dedicated to combating the impact of COVID-19.