Internal tensions have roiled the Congressional Hispanic Caucus as it seeks a path forward in the Trump administration.
The group’s House members have become frustrated with what they see is an overly passive approach by their counterparts in the Senate, Punchbowl News reported, as the group remains divide among progressives and others on how to counter President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Progressive lawmakers were upset when Sens. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act, Punchbowl said.
“The Senate may feel like they don’t know what the House is doing, and the House feels exactly the same,” Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., told Punchbowl. “If we’re not working together, they’re just going to play us, and they played us on this last bill.”
There has been tension in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus since last Congress when the House members complained they weren’t included in Senate talks on crafting a border bill, Punchbowl reported.
Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., wanted the group to meet with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on what they believed were his failures on the issue, Punchbowl said. Other members have complained about Latino senators being absent in the group’s activities.
“Everyone can do better and I certainly hope that that is a reflection that all my colleagues in the Hispanic Caucus agree on — that we all can do better,” Sen, Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., said to Punchbowl.
Gallego defended his support for the Laken Riley Act, saying it reflects where Latinos stand.
“If CHC is concerned about the view of Latinos on immigration, the way I’m voting is exactly where the median Latino voter is voting and how they feel about the border,” Gallego told Punchbowl. “They can debate all they want but the Latino voters in the country have spoken.”
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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