Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
The following statement is attributable to Leader Jeffries spokesperson Christie Stephenson:
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has proudly represented the people of Palm Beach and Broward Counties since 2022. Consistent with the United States Constitution, she is entitled to her day in court and the presumption of innocence. Pursuant to the Rules of the House Democratic Caucus, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick will take leave from her position as Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa while this matter is ongoing.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, where he highlighted how Republicans have betrayed their promise to lower costs on day one while House Democrats continue to fight for a future where every American can afford to live a good life.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: Leading off our discussion tonight is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Thank you very much for joining us tonight, Leader Jeffries. I lead in with Donald Trump there because that’s the guy who House Republicans were being asked to follow, Senate Republicans were being asked to follow. A guy who obviously is willing to stand up there and tell that pathological lie about a poll that absolutely never happened and a conversation that never happened, a completely invented conversation, the kind of conversation that if your grandfather did it, you’d try to get him some care. That’s the person who Mike Johnson was trying to get every Republican to support on this vote until he knew he couldn’t.
LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s exactly right. What we’re witnessing is an extraordinary meltdown in real time. Donald Trump and Republicans have failed the American people from the very beginning of his presidency. And we’re starting to see the reality of that hit my Republican colleagues. We saw that with the unconditional surrender resulting in the Epstein files being released. Now it’s wild to me that Donald Trump would suggest that I guess he’s saying he could beat George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. This guy couldn’t beat Richard Nixon right now because he’s been such a disaster as our President.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: I want to ask you about Donald Trump’s attack on you tonight. You know, in his announcement, ‘I have just signed the bill to release the Epstein files.’ He surrounded it with this long screed against a lot of people, including you. And the quote from the statement that he wrote tonight is ‘Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries who asked Epstein to donate to his campaign after Epstein was charged.’ And we found the email that he’s referring to, it’s a 2013 fundraising email that looks like it—I’m sure you’ve seen. What is your response to that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, he knows that that’s a lie as it relates to anything that I’ve personally asked for. In fact, you had some House Republicans suggesting on the House floor that I had somehow met with Epstein, had dinner with Epstein, raised money from Epstein, none of which is true. This random email that he’s referring to was first brought to my attention yesterday. And so, what we’re seeing from Donald Trump and the Republicans is that they’ve repeatedly tried to distract after failing with their effort to suppress the Epstein files. This was a victory for the survivors. It’s a victory for the American people. It’s a victory for transparency. And we’re going to stay on the case until these files are released. And once that happens, there’s going to be real accountability.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: About the email, I just want to clarify for the audience, the email is not from you. It’s from someone named Lisa Rossi. And it clearly it is addressed to Jeffrey Epstein. And it’s the kind of email that goes out literally by the thousands to fundraisers like this and clearly is introducing you to Jeffrey Epstein as someone they presume he has no idea who you are. It’s filled with biographical information about who you are on the assumption that he doesn’t have any idea who you are, and it’s an invitation to contribute to these groups, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. It’s the kind of fundraising email that does go out by the thousands upon thousands. And I’m sure there’ll be a lot more coverage of that. Leader Jeffries, as Donald Trump continues to tell this lie that this was his idea, that this vote was his idea. He is assuming his followers are willing to believe absolutely everything. You know what this fight took. You know that this discharge petition made history, just very few of them have ever passed the House. And as we go forward, as you realize, the question becomes, now, what will the Trump Justice Department actually release?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah that’s correct. And we expect that Pam Bondi, the so-called Attorney General, they’re going to play games as it relates to trying to selectively withhold documents. And we’re going to stay on the case. Listen, Representative Massie, Representative Khanna, this coalition, certainly the survivors, House Democrats partnering with Senate Democrats, we’re going to make sure that the documents are released, that you have full and complete transparency, and then the chips will fall where they may. And that’s what the American people deserve at this particular point in time. We’re also going to continue to press our case on these issues that matter. Driving down the high cost of living, fixing our broken healthcare system, certainly fighting hard to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And, Lawrence, I think you know House Democrats have launched a discharge petition to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years in order to try to make sure that tens of millions of Americans don’t experience dramatically increased premiums, copays and deductibles. And all we’ll need is a handful of Republicans to join us and we can force that bill onto the House Floor for an up or down vote.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: And it seems the discharge petition now is the route to legislation in the House of Representatives. It never was before, but Mike Johnson has completely lost control. Does this vote tell you that there are new possibilities in the House for your discharge petitions?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, that’s absolutely correct. What we’ve seen is the ability to defy the Speaker of the House when we’ve made our case successfully to the American people. And it certainly is true that over the last several weeks, we’ve raised the stakes around the issue of the Affordable Care Act tax credits and the need to make sure we’re protecting healthcare for working class Americans, middle class Americans and everyday Americans so they can afford to go see a doctor when they need one. The pressure will continue to mount the closer that we get to the end of December, and this is a viable vehicle available to us to get things done for the American people.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: What do you make? You know, I normally don’t talk about polls very much here, but that poll is quite striking that you Democrats now have a 14-point advantage in the ballot, in the general ballot poll in congressional elections. That’s what it was a year before you won back the House of Representatives last time.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, no. And it’s consistent with everything that we’ve seen, including the very real results a few weeks ago during the general election, when Democrats were successful all across the country in Virginia, in New Jersey, in New York, in California with Prop 50, in Pennsylvania, in Mississippi, in Georgia and in many other places throughout the nation. We’re going to continue to see the American people rejecting the failures and extremism of Donald Trump and the Republican Party and embracing the Democratic message that, listen, in this country, when you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to afford a good life, afford to live the good life. Good-paying job, good housing, good healthcare, good education for your children and a good retirement. That’s what Democrats are fighting hard to achieve.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: What does it mean for Donald Trump’s presidency if that all turns out to be true and the Democrats do take back the House of Representatives?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, at that point, we’re able to cut his presidency in half legislatively, begin to really hold the administration accountable. The House will no longer function as nothing more than a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda in most cases. Instead, we’ll be a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch, which is exactly what the framers intended the House to be.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you very much for starting off our discussions tonight.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced the Patients Over Paperwork Act to reverse burdensome paperwork requirements instituted in the Big Ugly Law (BUL) that will result in thousands of Washingtonians losing access to health care.
“Health care should be accessible and affordable for everyone,” said Rep. Larsen. “Most people who lose Medicaid coverage lose it because they forget to fill out a form or check a box, and the BUL doubles opportunities for a simple paperwork mistake to cost someone their access to health care. I am proud to introduce this bill to protect the 179,000 Medicaid enrollees that I represent.”
Under previous law, Medicaid recipients were required to recertify their coverage every 12 months. The BUL doubles the paperwork requirement, forcing recipients to recertify every 6 months. The Congressional Budget Office estimates this provision will cause 700,000 people nationwide to lose health insurance by 2034 and will cut $63 billion worth of health care from Medicaid, making it one of the five biggest Medicaid cuts in the BUL.
“Introducing the Patients Over Paperwork Act is just one step in rolling back the BUL,” said Rep. Larsen. “I will continue to fight alongside House Democrats to reverse the BUL and make health care affordable and accessible.”
Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Jim Costa (CA-21), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-Del), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and Marc Veasey (TX-33) cosponsored the Patients Over Paperwork Act.
The Patients Over Paperwork Act is also supported by the WA State Medical Association (WSMA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA), Families USA, National Health Law Program (NHeLP), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), Justice in Aging, American Public Health Association (APHA), Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC), and National Disability Rights Network (NDRN).
Bridget Bush, MD, FASA, President, Washington State Medical Association: “Far too many patients lose Medicaid coverage not because they’re ineligible, but because they get trapped by administrative hurdles. The Patients Over Paperwork Act restores a common sense 12-month recertification timeline and helps keep people connected to the care they rely on. Washington physicians strongly support this legislation because stable coverage is fundamental to better health outcomes, less administrative waste, and a more equitable health system. We applaud Rep. Larsen for leading this effort to protect patients and reduce avoidable barriers to care.”
Leslie Frane, Executive Vice President of SEIU: “Imagine being told you can’t get your chemo this week, or that your child’s checkup is suddenly cancelled—not because you no longer qualify for care, but because your paperwork is stuck in a pile. The Republican plan to double Medicaid eligibility requirements isn’t policy, it’s cruelty that adds layers of red tape to push working families off Medicaid through no fault of their own. SEIU members fight for healthcare justice every day, and we applaud Rep. Larsen’s Patients Over Paperwork Act as a commonsense step in making sure all families can get the care they need.”
Cassie Sauer, CEO, Washington State Hospital Association: “Washington’s hospitals are deeply concerned for the hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians projected to lose Medicaid coverage in the coming years. This legislation will remove barriers to coverage for patients, helping to ensure their access to needed health care services.”
Jen Taylor, Senior Director of Government Relations at Families USA: “Families USA is proud to endorse the Patients Over Paperwork Act. As states move forward with implementing the largest Medicaid cuts in history, new redetermination requirements are trapping people in a web of complex and confusing paperwork that will cause an estimated 700,000 people to lose coverage unnecessarily. This legislation would reverse harmful eligibility barriers and reduce administrative burdens so that people can keep the health coverage they are eligible for and rely on. We should be making it easier—not harder—for patients and families to get the care they need.”
Mara Youdelman, Managing Director, Federal Advocacy, National Health Law Program: “The National Health Law Program greatly appreciates the introduction of the Patients Over Paperwork Act. This legislation will protect Medicaid coverage for individuals who would otherwise be at high risk for losing Medicaid solely due to increased paperwork and red tape.”
Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness: “Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of Americans with mental health conditions, and any additional requirements for people to maintain Medicaid eligibility results in people losing coverage when they can’t navigate the administrative burden. Doubling the frequency of eligibility checks will only increase these barriers, resulting in people losing coverage despite being eligible. The Patients Over Paperwork Act restores a reasonable renewal process that protects coverage and keeps people connected to treatment. NAMI thanks Rep. Larsen for this important legislation and is proud to support this bill.”
The full text of the Patients Over Paperwork Act is available here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson issued the following statement after the House passed additional pieces of legislation this week to codify more of President Trump’s Executive Order confronting the crime crisis in our nation’s capital.
“House Republicans continue to codify President Trump’s crackdown on D.C. crime and passed two more critical bills to reverse the city’s dangerous soft-on-crime policies. The CLEAN D.C. Act repeals the D.C. Council’s flawed 2022 policing overhaul which Congress already sought to block with bipartisan legislation before President Biden vetoed it. The D.C. CRIMES Act further ensures the city cannot weaken sentencing standards for criminals and requires that violent youth offenders be charged as adults for the most serious offenses,” Speaker Johnson said. “These reforms reflect Republicans’ continued commitment to restore law and order in the nation’s capital and provides a model for other Democrat-run cities plagued by rising crime.”
“Too many Americans in the District of Columbia have been subjected to violence at the hands of dangerous criminals, especially repeat criminals who have been allowed to walk free. The Metropolitan Police Department should be able to do its job and protect Americans without fear of retribution, loss of retention among officers, and recruitment crises stemming from lack of support. The bills passed in the House build on President Trump’s promise to restore law and order to D.C., keep violent criminals off the streets, and defend residents and visitors alike from the chaos caused by the D.C. Council’s radical policies. I applaud Representatives Elise Stefanik and Andrew Clyde for leading the charge to keep D.C. safe and I urge the Senate to pass these bills quickly,” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said.
House Adopted Legislation During 119th Congress Targeting D.C. Crime:
H.R. 5214— District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of 2025 (Sponsored by Representative Elise Stefanik): bans cashless bail in Washington, D.C. and would end it nationwide by blocking federal funds from going to support policies and Far Left officials who release violent criminals back on the streets.
H.R. 5107 — Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now in (CLEAN) D.C. Act of 2025 (Sponsored by Representative Andrew Clyde): repeals the D.C. City Council’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2022. In 2023, President Biden vetoed bipartisan legislation passed by both the House and Senate to block its enactment.
H.R. 4922— D.C. CRIMES Act (Sponsored by Rep. Byron Donalds): Prohibits the D.C. Council from enacting lenient sentencing reforms and ensures youth offenders are appropriately charged as adults for serious crimes.
H.R. 5140— District of Columbia Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act (Sponsored by Rep. Brandon Gill): Lowers the age for juveniles to be tried as adults for violent offenses from 16 to 14, addressing the surge in youth crime.
H.R. 5143— District of Columbia Policing Protection Act (Sponsored by Rep. Clay Higgins): Restores law enforcement’s ability to pursue fleeing suspects and enhances public safety through real-time alerts during police pursuits.
H.R. 5125— District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act (Sponsored by Rep. Pete Sessions): Repeals the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission and returns judicial appointments to the President and Senate, in line with the Constitution.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)
Washington, DC –Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) released the following statement ahead of House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman’s markup of the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development or SPEED Act.
“I’m glad Chairman Westerman is marking up the SPEED Act this week. It’s extremely important that we reform the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) to better power our economy, protect our environment and lower costs for consumers. From our previous work together on Save our Sequoias and the Fix Our Forests Act, I know that Chairman Westerman is working honestly and diligently to find bipartisan solutions.
“To that end, the SPEED Act is a huge step forward. I hope that as the bill is marked up and moves to the House floor, we can find a way to address my and several of my colleagues’ remaining concerns.
“First, permit certainty. Recent actions by the Trump Administration to revoke already issued and legally sound permits, and their reluctance or refusal to issue permits for new wind and solar projects is unprecedented and must be prevented going forward. The language already in the bill is welcome but needs to be strengthened.
“Second, remedies. This bill removes the ability for a court to stop a project if the environmental analysis supporting the permit is found to be faulty – even if the analysis is incompetent or fraudulent. While I am open to restricting injunctive relief for violations of NEPA, there should be some opportunity for a court to delay, modify or revoke the permit that relies on that analysis. The judicial review process should be reformed to be swift, fair, and targeted, and we are confident we can come to agreement on a bill that achieves those goals.
“Finally, the effort to reduce litigation and increase certainty by putting blinders on agency analysis – described as codifying the Seven County decision – may backfire. That case held that federal agencies were not required to analyze certain impacts that were remote in place and time. The bill goes much further – affirmatively prohibiting that analysis. Notwithstanding the practical impacts of agencies implementing these restrictions – slowing down reviews – this could actually increase litigation, as project sponsors and opponents could now use this new standard to litigate over what is and is not in scope, creating additional uncertainty, and delaying project timelines.
“I am confident that all parties are working in good faith to reach a broader bipartisan deal that will deliver a transparent and accountable permitting process that will allow America to truly compete. I look forward to continuing to work with the Natural Resources Committee, fellow Democrats, and other stakeholders to achieve this goal, as this bill moves through markup and to the House floor.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)
WASHINGTON –Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) introduced the Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act. This bill would streamline the approval process to advance essential water, transportation, energy, infrastructure, and flood-control projects by allowing federal agencies to use previously conducted Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the approval of projects with similar environmental impacts.
“The Central Valley has numerous essential improvement projects stuck in limbo because of excessive red tape,and we should be doing everything we can to put shovels in the ground,” said Congressman Valadao. “Streamlining the slow, overly bureaucratic approval process by allowing Secretaries to use previously conducted and scientifically sound environmental reviews under NEPA will help move these tied up projects across the finish line. We need to get rid of these repetitive roadblocks, and I’m proud to lead the charge to unlock projects that will strengthen our region’s energy supply, improve our water infrastructure, and deliver the critical upgrades our communities have been waiting on for far too long.”
Background:
The Central Valley relies on timely federal approvals to advance essential projects, but unfortunately, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process has become one of the biggest obstacles to getting those improvements built. In recent years, agencies have faced mounting workloads, staff shortages, and layers of duplicative environmental reviews, creating a growing backlog that can delay projects for years even when their impacts are well-understood. These delays drive up costs, stall economic growth, and leave communities waiting for the infrastructure they urgently need. The Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act tackles this problem by allowing federal agencies to rely on previously completed environmental documents when projects or their impacts haven’t changed, cutting through unnecessary repetition while maintaining environmental safeguards.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)
RELEASE: HILL, SUOZZI LEAD LETTER BACKING CPC DESIGNATION FOR NIGERIA AMID RISING VIOLENCE
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 19, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives French Hill (R-AR) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio praising the Trump administration’s decision to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to severe and deteriorating religious freedom condition.
Rep. Hill said, “For too long, Nigeria’s government has failed to protect its own people—both Christians and Muslims—from horrific religious violence. Thousands have been killed, communities destroyed, and the persecution continues unabated. This CPC designation is necessary and long overdue. I thank President Trump for taking this critical step, and I hope it will finally compel Nigeria’s leaders to take meaningful action to protect religious freedom and hold perpetrators accountable.”
Rep. Suozzi said, “Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. The ongoing, widespread, and escalating violence in Nigeria, and the government’s failure to act, is unacceptable. Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern is a necessary step to demand accountability and protect people of all faiths.”
Background: In 2019, the U.S. Department of State placed Nigeria on the Special Watch List before elevating it to CPC status in 2020. Religious communities across Nigeria continue to face attacks with alarming frequency. This past June, armed attackers killed more than 200 people at a Catholic mission in Benue State that was sheltering displaced individuals. Two months later in Katsina State, at least 27 worshippers were killed when militants attacked a mosque during dawn prayers. These ongoing assaults on people of faith are deepening divisions and denying Nigerians their fundamental right to worship freely.
A “Country of Particular Concern” is a label given by the U.S. Secretary of State to nations engaged in severe violations of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Federal law requires the State Department to review religious freedom conditions around the world each year and identify countries that have “engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.
These severe violations include systematic and ongoing abuses like torture, inhumane treatment, imprisonment without charges, kidnappings, secret detentions, and other serious threats to people’s lives and safety based on their faith.
Rep. Hill and Rep. Suozzi have long been staunch advocates for better religious freedom conditions in Nigeria.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
WASHINGTON — Joe Biden may no longer be in the White House, but American families are still living with the consequences of his economic failures. President Biden presided over the worst inflation spike in 40 years, driving up the cost of food, housing, transportation, and necessities and left working families struggling to keep up.
Today, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are cleaning up the mess — cutting costs, raising wages, lowering interest rates, and rebuilding the strongest economy in the world.
BIDEN’S 40-YEAR INFLATION CRISIS
Joe Biden’s tenure produced the most painful price shock since Jimmy Carter.
The facts:
Working families, seniors, young parents, and first-time homebuyers all suffered under Biden’s failed economic leadership.
DEMOCRATS MADE THE CRISIS WORSE
Democrats didn’t just cause Biden’s inflation — they compounded it. Their reckless government shutdown inflicted real economic pain and derailed early recovery efforts.
The consequences:
While Republicans pushed to reopen the government and revive the economy, Democrats chose chaos and delay — deepening the affordability crisis American families were already digging out from.
THE TRUMP RECOVERY IS REAL — AND ACCELERATING
In less than a year, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have unleashed a powerful economic resurgence — built on investment, job growth, higher wages, lower costs, and restored confidence.
The results:
President Trump and Congressional Republicans also secured the largest tax cut in American history, taking effect on Americans’ next tax returns:
No Tax on Tips
No Tax on Overtime
New, targeted tax relief for seniors — ensuring Social Security goes further
These provisions are projected to lift wages by as much as $11,600.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Joe Biden and Democrats left behind:
20% cumulative inflation
40-year inflation highs
23-year high interest rates
$2,900 in lost purchasing power
A nationwide affordability crisis
President Trump and Congressional Republicans are delivering:
Lower prices
Higher wages
Record take-home pay
Historic tax cuts
Lower interest rates
A stronger, more stable, more affordable America
Congressional Republicans and President Trump are restoring prosperity — and putting American families FIRST again.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – This week, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined her Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues in a letter demanding the urgent release and investigation of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women currently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in contradiction to Federal regulations. The Members expressed their extreme concern to ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem after hearing reports of pregnant women detained and mistreated in several ICE facilities in Illinois, Louisiana, and Georgia.
ICE is instructed not to detain pregnant, postpartum, or nursing individuals under its own policy. However, there have been multiple reports of pregnant and nursing women shackled, placed in solitary confinement, or deprived of proper prenatal or lactation care.
The Members urged ICE to immediately release pregnant women in detention:
“The health and safety of pregnant women should not be threatened as a result of the administration choosing not to adhere to Federal regulations,” the Members wrote. “That is why we urge the administration to fully comply with the existing regulations and immediately correct the violations… By detaining vulnerable women in appalling conditions while pregnant, you are subjecting both the pregnant individual and the unborn child to significant risks and possible death. We urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE to follow its own rules and regulations on detention of pregnant women and demand their humane treatment.”
The letter was also signed by Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Suzanne Bonamici, André Carson, Troy Carter, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, Angie Craig, Jasmine Crockett, Danny Davis, Diana DeGette, Veronica Escobar, Valerie Foushee, Lois Frankel, Laura Friedman, Jesús García, Sylvia Garcia, Jahana Hayes, Val Hoyle, Glenn Ivey, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, Julie Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Robin Kelly, Ro Khanna, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Zoe Lofgren, Lucy McBath, Jennifer McClellan, James McGovern, LaMonica McIver, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Eleanor Norton, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Terri Sewell, Lateefah Simon, Melanie Stansbury, Shri Thanedar, Dina Titus, Rashida Tlaib, Norma Torres, Juan Vargas, Nydia Velázquez, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson.
Todd Lyons Acting Director Immigration and Customs Enforcement 500 12ᵗʰ St SW Washington, DC 20536
Dear Acting Director Lyons:
As members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus and House Democratic Caucus, we write with extreme concerns about the treatment of pregnant women in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Under ICE Directive 11032.4, ICE is instructed to not detain pregnant, postpartum, or nursing individuals for an administrative violation of immigration unless “release is prohibited by law or exceptional circumstances exist.” Federal regulations also require the release of pregnant women from custody via parole. Despite our urgent appeal to the administration in July regarding the safety of pregnant women in ICE custody, we have continued to receive numerous reports of pregnant women who have been detained under unacceptable treatment without clear exceptional circumstances, such as the deeply concerning reports out of the Basile, Louisiana (“Basile”), the Lumpkin, Georgia (“Stewart”) ICE and credible report that multiple pregnant women have been detained at Broadview, IL detention centers. At the detention centers, it was reported that pregnant women were being shackled, locked in restraints, or placed in solitary confinement. They were deprived of prenatal, pregnancy, postpartum, lactation, and miscarriage care, as well as interpretative services, and informed consent for medical services and procedures. The health and safety of pregnant women should not be threatened as a result of the administration choosing not to adhere to Federal regulations. That is why we urge the administration to fully comply with the existing regulations and immediately correct the violations.
It is well documented that lack of access to appropriate prenatal and post-partum care leads to significantly worse maternal and infant health outcomes. In several pregnancy outcome studies, women who were pregnant and gave birth while in custody had increased miscarriage rates, increased premature birth rates, and increased rates of medically unnecessary C-sections compared to the national non-incarcerated average, leading to short- and long-term health problems for both mothers and babies. Minimum standards for prenatal care in correctional settings are all similar from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, which include initial pregnancy testing, testing and treatment for substance use, HIV care, depression screening and treatment, access to appropriate diet and vitamins, delivery in a licensed hospital, and postpartum contraception. From the recent reports, not only are pregnant women being detained against Federal regulations in ICE facilities, but they are also being shackled while experiencing miscarriage, recovering from birth, and while in transit to the hospital. The treatment of pregnant women in ICE facilities is cruel and inhumane.
By detaining vulnerable women in appalling conditions while pregnant, you are subjecting both the pregnant individual and the pregnancy to significant risks and possible death. We urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE to follow its own rules and regulations on detention of pregnant women and demand their humane treatment. Furthermore, we request a response to the following questions and asks within 45 days of receipt of this letter:
Immediately conduct a review to identify and release all pregnant detainees who are not a security risk in ICE custody to ensure the agency abides by federal regulations and directives to not “detain, arrest, or take into custody” women who are pregnant, postpartum, or nursing.
What processes and trainings do you have in place to ensure the release and/or provision of timely medical care, in accordance with community standards of care, to pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women in ICE custody?
Provide a complete breakdown of the following metrics, by facility for the past year, including:
the number of pregnant women at intake and the women determined to be pregnant at first medical screening;
the number of births (live and stillbirths) that occurred while in custody;
the number of medical incidents of pregnant women (e.g., maternal or fetal distress, miscarriage, stillbirth, emergency obstetric care) reported by detainees;
the number of incidents where pregnant women were placed in restraints or shackles;
the number of pregnant women placed in any form of segregation; and
the number and outcome of internal investigations, disciplinary actions, or contractor “corrective action plans” related to the mistreatment or medical neglect of pregnant women in custody.
Explain what remedial or preventive benchmarks you use to monitor pregnant women’s health and safety in detention, and how compliance is verified independently.
The inhumane treatment of pregnant women by the administration is shameful. As members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, we will continue to fight for the safety of all women. We urge your immediate attention to this matter and anticipate a swift and substantive reply.
CC: Kristi Noem, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security; Field Office Directors of the New Orleans and Atlanta ICE Field Offices
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)
November 19, 2025
Letter follows a Human Rights Watch and Cristosal report exposing systematic abuse and torture at CECOT
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Gregory Meeks (NY-06), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development, led 38 lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem raising alarm about the horrific conditions at Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), El Salvador’s notorious megaprison and torture center, and pressing the Trump Administration on its use of U.S. taxpayer funding to send and hold people there. This follows a Human Rights Watch and Cristosal report published on November 12 that found a systemic pattern of abuse and torture at CECOT.
“We write to you expressing profound concern over the findings of the recently published report titled ‘You Have Arrived in Hell: Torture and Other Abuses Against Venezuelans in El Salvador’s Mega Prison,’” wrote the members. “This meticulously researched report, published on November 12 by Human Rights Watch and the El Salvador-based Cristosal exposes the systematic pattern of abuse and torture experienced by the 252 Venezuelan nationals the Trump Administration sent to El Salvador’s notorious Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) between March and April of 2025. It also finds that the Administration failed to respect the principle of non-refoulment and questions the Administration’s reliance on El Salvador’s assurances that it would abide by the UN Convention Against Torture.”
The members continued, “We urge you to investigate these findings and provide an immediate explanation to Congress and to the American people for the Trump Administration’s complicity in subjecting these individuals to such horrific and cruel treatment.”
“Longstanding domestic and international law prohibit the United States from transferring any person from our jurisdiction or effective control to any place where the person would face such serious human rights violations,” the members pressed. “Yet, the Department of Homeland Security sent these individuals to El Salvador to be detained at CECOT, and the Department of State provided $4.76 million dollars to cover the costs ‘associated with’ their detention.”
“These violations are a stain on the moral conscience of our country. We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that the United States is never again complicit in such horrific and unlawful behavior,” the members concluded.
In addition to Kaine, Van Hollen, Meeks, and Castro, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), Bill Keating (D-MA-09), James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA-11), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Julie Johnson (D-TX-32), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), and Grace Meng (D-NY-06).