Press Releases

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24), a Vice Chair of the New Democrat Coalition and its Immigration and Border Security Task Force, issued a statement with Task Force Chair Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and other members of the Coalition’s leadership team following the release of President Biden’s executive order that would bar migrants who cross the southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum, which will be in effect during high levels of crossing.

President Biden’s order will enable immigration officers to more easily remove those who do not have a lawful basis to remain in the country and ease the burden on border personnel.

“With today’s announcement, President Biden is taking decisive, commonsense action to restore order at the southern border at a time when Congressional Republicans continue to use it as a political football. This executive order will reduce the burden on Customs and Border Protection, immigration courts and the immigration system, and the communities we represent.

“We are encouraged by the President’s executive order, but it’s ultimately Congress’ job to address this crisis through real, sustained investments in border security and meaningful immigration reform. 

“New Dems have worked tirelessly to find bipartisan consensus on policies that secure the border, support law enforcement, reform the asylum system, and provide a pathway to citizenship for those who qualify. At every turn, Congressional Republicans have blocked progress for their own political gain – and that of Donald Trump. 

“It’s time for Republicans to put politics aside and finally join Democrats in passing the bipartisan border bill for the good of the American people. Guided by our Framework for Commonsense Immigration Reform, New Dems will continue fighting to find common ground and deliver bipartisan solutions to restore order at the southern border.”

New Democrat Leadership Members include Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02), Vice Chairs Sharice Davids (KS-03), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and  Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Leadership Members Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Whip Susie Lee (NV-03), Freshman Leadership Representative Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Chair Emeritus Suzan DelBene (WA-01). Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) is the Chair of the NDC’s Immigration and Border Security Task Force and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) is the Vice Chair of the Task Force.

As Vice Chair of the New Democrat Coalition’s Immigration and Border Security Task Force, Rep. Carbajal has been a leader in both calling for a vote on the border security package repeatedly blocked by Congressional Republicans, and crafting a framework for reforms to the U.S. immigration system.

Rep. Carbajal and the Task Force rolled out their vision for bipartisan immigration and border security reform in February, and have repeatedly called on Congressional Republicans to work across the aisle to make progress on reforming U.S. immigration policy.

Rep. Carbajal immigrated to the United States when he was five years old from Mexico. His father worked as a farmworker in Ventura County, where Carbajal joined him in the summers growing up to help pick the vegetables that feed the nation and the world.

He is one of the leading voices behind the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would provide stability and fairness for farmworkers and address workforce shortages in the agriculture industry.

He also is the author of the bipartisan Protect Patriot Parents Act, which would make parents of U.S. military servicemembers eligible to adjust for Lawful Permanent Resident status, preventing potential deportations or separations of military families.

He is also a cosponsor and champion of the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act, which would permanently codify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for the nearly 800,000 young people who came to the United States as children.