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Castro Calls for Release of San Antonio U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman’s Mom to Be Released from Dilley Trailer Prison

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

August 28, 2026

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the statement below regarding a San Antonio student whose mother is being detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center. Today, Castro will go to Dilley for his ninth visit this year alongside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Congressional team.

“Earlier this year, I proudly nominated David Garcia to the U.S. Naval Academy because of his academic excellence and commitment to service. He began as a midshipman this summer.

“Right now, his mother, Maria, is locked away at the Dilley Trailer Prison. ICE took her when she showed up for her green card interview. She was doing everything the right way.

“The Trump Administration is targeting military families and leaving a dark stain on our nation.

“I am calling for ICE to release David’s mom Maria immediately.”

Background:

Earlier this year, Congressman Castro successfully nominated David Garcia to be appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy. Garcia started as a midshipman this summer. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained his mother, Maria Rocio Rocha, while she was at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office for a green card interview on August 25, 2026. She was then transferred to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, also known as the Dilley Trailer Prison.

Additional Information:

This morning, Castro joined Democracy Now! and called on ICE to immediately release Maria Rocio Rocha. Find the transcript below:

The Trump Administration, it’s clear, is also targeting military families. We’ve seen this kind of story come up now several times.

David Garcia is an outstanding young man from San Antonio in my congressional district. I nominated him to the U.S. Naval Academy and he’s there right now. Unfortunately, his mom had been granted parole in place and showed up for her green card interview and when she did, ICE took her.

Now she’s sitting in that Dilley Trailer Prison as her son is at the U.S. Naval Academy as we speak. I’ve been in contact with ICE. I’m working on his mom Maria’s case, and I’m hoping to see her today. But we were still working out getting all of the privacy and permission forms that we need.

You’ve got this young man who is serving his country, who absolutely represents the best of us—his mom that was doing everything right, as they say—and still, Donald Trump and his administration, with the help of governors like Greg Abbott, are targeting them.

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Congressman Allen Announces September Community Office Hours

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) announced members of his staff will host Community Office Hours across Georgia’s 12th District during the month of September.

During these events, members of Congressman Allen’s staff will be available to assist constituents with a variety of federal issues, including help navigating various federal agencies such as FEMA, Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Medicare, and others. Community Office Hours are a quarterly resource provided by Congressman Allen’s staff designed to serve constituents closer to home. Congressman Allen himself will not be in attendance.

After the announcement, Congressman Allen issued the following statement:

“I invite anyone seeking help with a federal issue to take advantage of the one-on-one services my office provides. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency, our dedicated caseworkers stand ready to help you. Please visit my team during Community Office Hours in September or contact one of our district offices for more information.”

See below for a list of Community Office Hours dates, times, and locations by county (excluding counties in which Congressman Allen has a permanent office):

Burke County

WHEN: Tuesday, September 8th from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

WHERE: County Commission Boardroom, Burke County Courthouse

111 E. 6th Street

Waynesboro, GA 30830

Candler County

WHEN: Tuesday, September 15th from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

WHERE: Metter City Hall

49 S. Rountree Street

Metter, GA 30439

Columbia County

WHEN: Wednesday, September 16th from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

WHERE: Grovetown City Hall

103 Old Wrightsboro Road

Grovetown, GA 30813

Effingham County

WHEN: Friday, September 11 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

WHERE: Effingham County Board of Commissioners Office

804 S. Laurel St, Suite 200

Springfield, GA 31329

Emanuel County

WHEN: Friday, September 18th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce

102 S. Main Street

Swainsboro, GA 30401

Evans County

WHEN: Tuesday, September 15th from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

WHERE: Strickland Center for the Arts

707 W. Main St.

Claxton, GA 30417

Glascock County

WHEN: Wednesday, September 23rd from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

WHERE: Family Connections & Communities in School

370 W. Main Street

Gibson, GA 30810

Jefferson County

WHEN: Wednesday, September 23rd from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM

WHERE: Community Club House

101 McNair Street

Wrens, GA 30833

Jenkins County

WHEN: Thursday, September 17th from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

WHERE: Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce

548 Cotton Avenue

Millen, GA 30442

Johnson County

WHEN: Monday, September 14th from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

WHERE: Wrightsville City Hall

8647 S. Marcus Street

Wrightsville, GA 31096

Lincoln County

WHEN: Thursday, September 17th from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

WHERE: Lincoln County Courthouse

210 Humphrey Street

Lincolnton, GA 30817

McDuffie County

WHEN: Wednesday, September 23rd from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

WHERE: Thomson-McDuffie Administrative Building

210 Railroad Street

Thomson, GA 30824

Montgomery County

WHEN: Monday, September 21st from 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM

WHERE: Montgomery County Courthouse

400 S. Railroad Avenue

Mount Vernon, GA 30445

Screven County

WHEN: Monday, September 21st from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Screven County Courthouse, Commission Boardroom

216 Mims Road

Sylvania, GA 30467

Tattnall County

WHEN: Monday, September 14th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Glennville Welcome Center/Chamber of Commerce

136 S. Veterans Boulevard

Glennville, GA 30427

Treutlen County

WHEN: Monday, September 21st from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

WHERE: Treutlen County Commissioners’ Office

1830 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

Soperton, GA 30457

Warren County

WHEN: Wednesday, September 23rd from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Warren County Chamber of Commerce

46 Norwood Street

Warrenton, GA 30828

Washington County

WHEN: Thursday, September 24th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Community Health Care System

220 Morningside Drive

Sandersville, GA 31082

Wheeler County

WHEN: Monday, September 21st from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

WHERE: Alamo City Hall

7 W. Main Street

Alamo, GA 30411

Wilkes County

WHEN: Thursday, September 17th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce

22B West Square

Washington, GA 30673

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Underwood Opposes DHS Plans to Spend Millions on Electric Shock Gloves for ICE

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON — This week, Rep. Lauren Underwood, a member of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, wrote to the Department of Homeland Security in opposition to recently reported plans to spend up to $20 million to equip U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel with electric shock gloves.

The devices, known as Generated Low Output Voltage Emitters, or G.L.O.V.E., are designed to be worn by officers and administer an electrical shock when an officer makes physical contact with an individual.

“The idea that we would spend millions of taxpayer dollars to put these electric shock gloves on the hands of ICE personnel is disturbing and completely unacceptable,” said Rep. Underwood. “This agency is already out of control, and they cannot be given another tool to terrorize and brutalize our communities. These devices should not be deployed under any circumstances, and I am demanding DHS abandon this procurement.”

The manufacturer of G.L.O.V.E., Compliant Technologies, warns against using the devices on elderly people, small children, pregnant women, and people with severe disabilities. Underwood is demanding answers about what restrictions DHS will place on their use, including protections for vulnerable populations and safeguards to prevent involuntary reactions caused by an electrical shock from being mistaken for resistance and used to justify additional force.

Underwood also raised concerns about accountability, particularly given recent incidents in which DHS’s initial characterization of use of force encounters has been contradicted by video and other evidence, as G.L.O.V.Es can administer shocks without leaving burns, marks, or scars,

The letter comes just weeks after Underwood met with DHS leadership about gaps in body worn camera deployment, where officials cited the significant costs of fully equipping ICE and CBP personnel with cameras. Underwood questioned why DHS is prepared to spend up to $20 million on electric shock gloves while those gaps remain.

Full text of Underwood’s letter can be found here:

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Krishnamoorthi Urges State Department to Support Search for Those Missing After Devastating Floods in Nepal and Tibet

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi today urged the State Department to use every available resource to support ongoing search and rescue efforts following devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet that have left hundreds of people missing, including American citizens. Krishnamoorthi’s office is also working to assist those seeking help locating missing family members and friends.

“My thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet, including the hundreds of people who remain missing. Reports that American citizens are among those still unaccounted for are deeply troubling, and my office is working to assist those seeking help locating family members and friends. The State Department must use every available resource to support search and rescue efforts and help account for those who remain missing. The United States must continue working closely with authorities in Nepal and the region to provide answers to families awaiting news of their loved ones.”

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Krishnamoorthi Demands USDA Action as Trump-Backed SNAP Cuts Put Free School Meals at Risk

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

Illinois Has 47 Fewer Schools Participating in Free Meal Program, With Nearly 24,000 Fewer Students Attending Participating Schools

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today demanded immediate action from the Trump Administration to protect children’s access to free school meals as historic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect. In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Food and Nutrition Administration Acting Administrator Shiela Corley, Krishnamoorthi warned that the cuts are already putting additional pressure on school meal programs in Illinois and across the country.

New data show Illinois has 47 fewer schools and 15 fewer school districts participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) this school year, with nearly 24,000 fewer Illinois students attending schools that provide free meals to all students through the program. Illinois was one of only three states to experience the largest declines nationwide in the number of schools participating in CEP.

In the letter, Krishnamoorthi writes:

“I am writing regarding the severe impact that cuts under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) are having on children’s access to school meals as students across Illinois and the country return to the classroom. I strongly urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) to take immediate action to protect children’s access to nutritious school meals, particularly in Illinois communities already experiencing losses in free meal eligibility as a result of the law’s cuts to SNAP.”

The OBBBA, enacted by Congress and the Trump Administration in July 2025, imposed new SNAP eligibility and work requirements while making the largest cuts to SNAP in the program’s history. Since the law took effect, an estimated 4.5 million people, including 1.5 million children, have lost SNAP benefits nationwide. In Illinois, more than 300,000 people are expected to lose benefits because of the new work and paperwork requirements alone, while SNAP enrollment has already fallen 16 percent in the year since the law’s enactment.

Those losses can follow children directly into the classroom. Students enrolled in SNAP are automatically certified for free school meals without having to submit a separate household application. When families lose SNAP, children can lose that automatic eligibility even when their underlying need for food assistance has not changed.

Krishnamoorthi writes:

“A paperwork failure by one household should not become a food insecurity problem for hundreds of children. If enough families lose direct certification, an entire school can lose access to CEP and its ability to provide free meals to every student.”

Under CEP, schools and districts where at least 25 percent of students are directly certified through SNAP, Medicaid, or other qualifying programs can provide free breakfast and lunch to all students without collecting individual household applications. As families lose SNAP because of new paperwork requirements, schools can fall below that threshold and lose CEP eligibility.

Krishnamoorthi is demanding that USDA and FNA conduct an immediate state-by-state assessment of the impact of the OBBBA’s SNAP eligibility changes on children’s access to school meals and make the results public. He is also seeking answers to the following questions:

  1. How many children have lost direct certification for free school meals as a result of losing SNAP benefits since the OBBBA took effect, both nationwide and in each state?
  2. How many schools and school districts have lost, or are at risk of losing, CEP eligibility as a result of changes in SNAP participation, and how many students attend those schools?
  3. What steps are USDA and FNA taking to prevent children who lose direct certification from losing access to free school meals and to help schools preserve CEP eligibility?
  4. Which states and communities face the greatest risk of reduced access to school meals as a result of these changes, and what assistance are USDA and FNA providing to them?

Krishnamoorthi requested responses to his questions and the results of the state-by-state assessment by September 10, 2026. He also requested that USDA make the assessment public so states, school districts, and families can understand the effects of the changes and the steps being taken to address them.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s letter is available here.

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Krishnamoorthi Demands Answers from Trump DOJ Over Reported Hiring of Lawyer Convicted of Hacking Election Websites for Election Monitoring

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, today demanded answers from Attorney General Todd Blanche following reports that a lawyer convicted of hacking election websites joined the Trump Administration’s Civil Rights Division and participated in its election-monitoring operation during Minnesota’s August primary. The reports come as DOJ prepares to deploy as many as 1,000 personnel during the November midterm elections, raising urgent questions about who the Department is entrusting with access to polling locations and voters.

In the letter, Krishnamoorthi writes:

 “Reports indicate that David Michael Levin—a Florida attorney who pleaded guilty in 2016 to unauthorized computer intrusions involving two election websites—appears to have joined the Department’s Civil Rights Division and participated in the Department’s monitoring of Minnesota’s August primary. Photographs and video reviewed by reporters reportedly show Mr. Levin standing alongside a Civil Rights Division attorney at a Minneapolis polling location, where a local election judge intervened after the two men positioned themselves too close to the polling place.”

 According to Florida investigators, Levin used SQL injection techniques to obtain the login credentials of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections and used those credentials to access the office’s website as an administrator. He also targeted the Florida Division of Elections website. Levin was originally charged with three felonies, ultimately pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, and served 20 days in jail.

DOJ has not publicly explained Levin’s employment status, his role in the monitoring operation, or how he was selected to participate. Reports have also identified other individuals brought into the Civil Rights Division who have publicly questioned the legitimacy of past elections.

Krishnamoorthi continues:

“These reports raise a fundamental question: What standards is the Department applying when selecting the personnel who will be responsible for protecting Americans’ voting rights?”

The letter follows Krishnamoorthi’s August 19 demand for safeguards against voter intimidation and answers on how DOJ will select, train, and supervise as many as 1,000 election monitors it plans to deploy during the 2026 midterms, nearly twice the size of its 2024 effort.

Krishnamoorthi writes:

“If the reports concerning Mr. Levin are accurate, his presence at a polling location would call that confidence into question. An individual with a documented history of unauthorized access to election systems should not be placed in a position of authority or proximity to voters and election officials without a clear explanation from the Department of the vetting, supervision, and legal authority governing that assignment.”

Krishnamoorthi requested responses to the following questions by September 3, 2026:

  1. Is David Michael Levin currently, or has he previously been, an employee, contractor, detailee, or volunteer of the Civil Rights Division? If so, please identify his position, responsibilities, and dates of service.
  2. What vetting process does the Department require before assigning an individual to election-monitoring duties, including criminal background checks and reviews of an individual’s prior involvement with election systems or election-related activities? Was that process followed in Mr. Levin’s case?
  3. Were Department officials aware of Mr. Levin’s 2016 conviction for unauthorized access to election systems before he participated in the Minneapolis monitoring operation? If so, who approved his participation?
  4. Under what legal authority was Mr. Levin present at the Powderhorn Park polling location? Was he a duly appointed federal election observer, a Civil Rights Division employee, or acting in another capacity?
  5. What training and written guidance are provided to election monitors regarding permissible conduct inside or near polling places, including restrictions designed to prevent voter intimidation and interference with election officials?
  6. What screening criteria will the Department apply to the approximately 1,000 personnel it plans to deploy in November? Will those criteria include an individual’s criminal history, prior conduct involving election systems, and public efforts to undermine confidence in lawful elections?
  7. Will the Department provide Congress with a written description of the vetting, training, supervision, and disciplinary procedures governing its 2026 election-monitoring program before those personnel are deployed?

 

Krishnamoorthi requested a complete response by September 3, 2026, citing the proximity of the midterm elections and the scale of DOJ’s planned deployment.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s letter is available here.

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Krishnamoorthi Delivers Nearly $5.8 Million to Upgrade Aging Infrastructure, Protect Communities from Severe Weather Threats

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

DES PLAINES, IL — Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi joined local leaders from Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, DuPage County, Bartlett, and Schaumburg to announce nearly $5.8 million in Community Project Funding he secured for five infrastructure projects across the 8th Congressional District. The investments will upgrade aging water infrastructure, reduce neighborhood flooding, improve road and pedestrian safety, and advance major transportation improvements. 

“When a water main breaks, a neighborhood floods, or an intersection becomes overwhelmed, families pay the price,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. “That’s why I’m proud to have secured nearly $5.8 million to help our communities fix aging infrastructure before problems become crises. These investments will protect homes from flooding, keep drinking water reliable, and make our roads and intersections safer. With severe weather putting more strain on the infrastructure we rely on every day, investing now will help keep our communities safer, stronger, and more resilient for years to come.”

The funding includes:

  • $1.8 million for the City of Des Plaines’ Algonquin Road Grade Separation Project to support Phase II engineering, including final design and preparation of the plans and specifications needed to move the project toward construction. Phase II engineering is expected to take approximately three to four years. 
  • $1.092 million for Elk Grove Village’s Water Main Lining Project to rehabilitate 15 critical sections of the Village’s more than 180 miles of water main, much of which dates to the 1950s and 1960s. The project will be Elk Grove Village’s first use of water-main lining, which requires less roadway excavation than traditional replacement. 
  • $240,000 for DuPage County’s Newton & Second Flood Reduction Project to address recurring flooding in the Nelsons Highview neighborhood near Newton Avenue and Second Street in unincorporated Glendale Heights. Flooding has damaged residential properties and closed roads, limiting emergency vehicle access. Improvements include a detention/retention pond, additional storm sewers, and outlet and downstream improvements. 
  • $1.5 million for the Village of Bartlett’s Route 25/West Bartlett Road Intersection Improvements to add dedicated turn lanes in each direction and a pedestrian crossing bridge to improve traffic flow and safety. 
  • $1.152 million for the Village of Schaumburg’s Hammond Drive/Algonquin Road Intersection Improvements to improve the intersection and mitigate the impacts of industrial traffic on Schaumburg residents. 

The five awards total $5.784 million in Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding secured by Congressman Krishnamoorthi for infrastructure projects across the 8th Congressional District.

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Dingell Statement on Trump’s Attempt to Rename Lake Ontario

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Dingell Statement on Trump’s Attempt to Rename Lake Ontario

Washington, D.C., August 27, 2026

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) released the following statement after President Trump signed an Executive Order attempting to rename Lake Ontario:

“The Great Lakes are a shared treasure that generations of Americans and Canadians have worked together to protect. Donald Trump can sign all the executive orders he wants, but it will always be Lake Ontario. Canada is not our enemy. It is our neighbor, our ally, and one of Michigan’s most important economic partners. It is a friendship that no stroke of a pen can erase,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “President Trump is trying to divide us and distract people from his reckless trade war that is raising costs and threatening American workers. When he is done doing arts and crafts in the Oval, I’d suggest he turn his attention to his failed economy that is raising costs, eliminating jobs, and leaving working men and women behind.”

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Higgins Celebrates Groundbreaking of Advanced Air Mobility Pilot Program at Houma-Terrebonne Airport

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

LAFAYETTE, LA – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) congratulated state and local leaders on breaking ground on Louisiana’s Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) site at the Houma-Terrebonne Airport.

The project, selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will test transportation capabilities and deployment of Advanced Air Mobility for cargo and personnel for flights over the Gulf of America, and to crucial locations for the energy industry in Louisiana. Today’s groundbreaking marks the start of construction of the facilities, and once underway, this program will improve connectivity for offshore and coastal communities.

Congressman Higgins was a vocal advocate for Louisiana’s selection in the eVTOL eIPP program, delivering two letters to DOT and FAA leadership in support of this program for the state. Read Congressman Higgins’ letter here and a letter from the Louisiana Delegation here.

“South Louisiana has been moving people and cargo out to the Gulf of America for generations, and today we’re breaking ground on the next chapter of that work,” said Congressman Higgins. “The Houma-Terrebonne Airport is uniquely equipped for this important pilot program, and this groundbreaking means real jobs and real opportunity for Terrebonne Parish. I’d like to thank Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford for their partnership, and the local leaders who worked tirelessly to bring this project home.”

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Griffith Announces $762,861 in HHS Grants to Virginia Tech

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a research grant worth $762,861. This grant is for aging research.

 The funding breakdown of the grant is as follows:

  • $762,861 to study how the protein TDP-43 spreads and affects brain cells, which is necessary for studying and treating limbic-predominant age-related TDP‑43 encephalopathy (LATE). This is a form of dementia

In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Scientific discoveries contribute to new treatments and better health outcomes.

“This HHS grant for more than $760,000 helps Virginia Tech contribute their research skills to better inform American scientists, doctors and patients.”

BACKGROUND

As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the National Institutes of Health and its division of Aging.

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