Adriano Espaillat

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon in recognition and honor of the positive impact of Dyckman Basketball and what it has had on the communities of Inwood, Washington Heights, and across Upper Manhattan. All summer, players and fans from the community descend on the famed court on 204th Street. I may say that the entire city goes there because of its caliber. In the 1980s, Kenny Stevens, Omar Booth, and Michael Jenkins established the Dyckman Tournament, seeing that basketball was a positive outlet for neighborhoods that were in the throes of the crack epidemic. Sharon Bond and Kenneth Stevens continue to be the leaders of this program. Since then, it has grown tremendously and now is viewed as the premier--not one of the premiers, but the premier--street ball contest program in the country, which draws crowds, sponsors, and talent from across the Nation. The courts are equally packed and lively during pickup games and exhibition games, which include top talent such as Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, and Kevin Durant. Basketball is integral to the identity and passion of New York's 13th District. We have the Dyckman Tournament and staff to thank for it. Don't forget: Go Knicks.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Thank you, Congresswoman Torres, for your leadership on this issue and convening us here tonight. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to forcefully speak against the Trump administration's horrific ICE abuses and to demand accountability for the deaths of 76 individuals that have died at the hands of DHS since the start of 2025. Whether in ICE detention or due to violence in our street, DHS is responsible for the deaths of 35 individuals--and one more today--this year. The American public is outraged at the brutality of ICE, and they demand accountability. We demand accountability. For that reason, Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus went to court in order to access those detention centers so that we could exercise our oversight duties and make sure that the conditions are right and humane. According to polls, 63 percent of Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, disapprove of the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws. We all know ``ICE is out of control''; ``ICE estan fuera de control.'' In July, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, and Homeland Security Democrats held an oversight forum in Houston after the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Like Lorenzo's family, dozens of families across the country continue to mourn the unjust death of their loved ones. We know these deaths could have been prevented. That is why the Hispanic Caucus has continued to push for guardrails in all ICE funding, requiring for ICE agents to identify themselves, no masks during enforcement, body cameras recording all enforcement actions, limits on firearms used in civil immigration operations, and protections of sensitive locations, and many more. In less than a year, Republicans have given nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars to immigration enforcement without any guardrails. Not one. The CHC will continue to demand reforms and accountability.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate a young constituent, John Avila. I first met John when he was working toward his bachelor's degree in the prelaw track of New York University. I met him outside of Our Lady of Angels Roman Catholic Church in my district, in the Bronx part of the district. As a son of Luis and Ivonne Avila, two Ecuadorian immigrants who settled in the Bronx in the 1990s, he said that he noticed disparities around him and believed that a just legal system could help bridge the opportunity gap. After graduating from NYU, he became a paralegal during COVID and enrolled in New York Law School. Through his hard work, he was able to graduate with his law degree in 2022. He now works at a personal injury firm. He says that he looks forward to mentoring other aspiring lawyers, especially children of immigrants. I congratulate John on all of his accomplishments. I know that his family is very proud of him.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Frederick Martinez, El Pacha, a defining voice in the Dominican media as he celebrates 3 years of ``El Pacha Oficial,'' his newest entertainment series. Known to millions of people as El Pacha, Martinez has built a legacy as one of the most dynamic and influential communicators in the Dominican community. From standout programs like ``Ritmo del Sabado,'' ``De aqui pa' alla con El Pacha,'' and ``Sabadazo con El Pacha,'' he introduced a bold style that broke traditional molds and brought audiences closer to him. More than a presenter, Pacha is a cultural phenomenon. His improvisational talent and authentic voice have inspired generations of broadcasters while redefining Caribbean entertainment. Today, we celebrate not just a career, but a legacy, one defined by passion, authenticity, and lasting impact. New York is yours. ``Pacha, New York is yours; ``Pacha, Nueva York es tuyo.''

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I was at the Appropriations vote or the DACA Amendment and was held up at the committee. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 130.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, last week, I had the privilege of helping students and staff at the Patrick Henry Middle School by securing $500,000 to renovate the school. Actually, Mr. Speaker, this was an effort led by students, which exemplifies civic duty advocacy on behalf of their school and their community. While there, I was also able to meet students that helped advocate for this project, including the student council copresidents, Doris Espinoza and Thomas Stevens; the student council vice president, Jade Perez; and the other members of the council: Humayra Chowdhury, Victoria Quinonez, Sadie Metz, Chloe Manning, Mujahidul Islam, Alessa Rodriguez, Emma Van-Eiker, Rosalie McCall-Feighery, Abby Maria- Catalino, and Kylie Cruz, great students that through their advocacy brought a renovation to their school. I want to acknowledge the principal of the school who has done also a tremendous job, but first and foremost, student-led power, showing that they can do it for their school and their community. I am proud to have helped secure more than $14 million for my district, and I look forward to helping fund initiatives that will support the needs of New York-13.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, ICE is an untamed agency that continues to overstep the bounds of legality. They have shot and killed American citizens in Minnesota, and almost 50 people have died under their custody. They continue to pound people all over the country. We saw how they lurked around schools, bringing fear to American families. They body slammed a sitting Member of the U.S. Senate from the State of California. They tear-gassed and threw chemicals at duly elected Members of the House of Representatives in California. They continue to establish that they have no civility and no respect for sensitive locations, for houses of worship, schools, and hospitals. Instead of addressing these issues and protecting constituents, Republicans have withheld hundreds of thousands of dollars from FEMA, TSA, and Coast Guard personnel. This week, Madam Speaker, we are voting on a dishonest resolution that supposedly shows support for Department of Homeland Security agencies. Republicans are also putting the same DHS funding bill on the floor that has already failed in the Senate numerous times. This is a disingenuous effort, a failed proposal, and, frankly, a lie. If Congress really supported these workers, then we would be having a serious discussion, a conversation, about how to end the shutdown. Let's fund TSA. Let's separate TSA from ICE. Let's make sure that the men and women who work at our airports get their salaries. We can do that. ICE deserves to be dismantled because of their rogue behavior and because of their deadly behavior. A discussion must be had about the future of any agency, and TSA agents deserve to get their salaries. Passengers across the country that are waiting hours upon hours and missing their flights deserve not to have their lives disrupted. Let's pay the TSA agents, and let's have a full discussion about the wrong ways of this deadly agency called ICE. Meanwhile, more than 400 TSA officers have already quit since the shutdown on February 14. The FEMA disaster fund is now depleted. DHS employees have been forced to go without pay for nearly 6 weeks. Airline travelers are experiencing the worst wait times in the history of our Nation, and some are being harassed at the airport by ICE agents. The President has not helped this disaster by insisting that Republicans reject any and all proposals that come before his desk. Any attempt to pass a bill to resolve this matter the President has automatically rejected. In fact, he has thrown gasoline on top of this conflict by adding a voter suppression bill, the SAVE Act, to this discussion, something that has nothing to do with the airports or TSA. In fact, many Americans, including married women, seniors, and others feel that this is a voter suppression effort, trying to throw us decades back from the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act legislation that protected all Americans. We must hold this effort, dastardly effort, accountable. ICE's mission under Trump was never to keep America safe. It was to keep immigrant communities frightened through fear and intimidation tactics. We must hold this agency accountable, and we begin to do that by dismantling it.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, you have heard from many of our colleagues, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and other Members representing the State of Minnesota, the State of Illinois, the State of Michigan, and others. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has presented a policy position on DHS. The Members voted on that position, approved it, and it is the following: We propose to suspend ICE and CBP immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. We also propose to end warrantless stops. We also want to suspend indiscriminate arrests and militarized tactics against civilians nationwide. Allow the agency to continue legitimate statutory enforcement, focused on serious public safety threats. This includes, obviously, the immediate protections against the detention and targeting of U.S. citizens. That is right, Mr. Speaker. This agency has been rampantly arresting not just green card holders, TPS recipients, Dreamers, moms, and dads, but also U.S. citizens. We also call to redirect the $75 billion OBBB enforcement funding away from mass detention and quota-driven arrests toward humane community safety and affordability concerns. This includes independent investigations into the deaths in DHS detention. As I said earlier, many people have died while in DHS custody. We want to deliver accountability by advancing comprehensive legislation to unmask ICE agents. No ICE agent should be anonymous, without a first name, a last name, and a shield number. We want to mandate body cameras with strong protocols; protect sensitive locations, including houses of worship, schools, and hospitals; and restrict the use of deadly force. We also want to enforce humanitarian standards in ICE and CBP custody, ban military-grade equipment, strengthen civil rights, and the inspector general's oversight. We want to protect whistleblowers and return Border Patrol where they should be, at the border. These are the proposals that have been adopted by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Again, Mr. Speaker, the country is alarmed. Our citizenship is imperiled with these aggressive actions by ICE. Our citizens are being hurt. Green card holders have gone underground. Our economy is suffering because of these brutal practices. Let's dismantle ICE. Let's take a look at these best practices, and let's move forward as one United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Grijalva).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan, Rashida Tlaib.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois, Delia Ramirez.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from Texas, Joaquin Castro.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentlewoman from Oregon, Val Hoyle.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentlewoman from Vermont, Becca Balint.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Morrison).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Ruiz).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to forcefully speak against the Trump administration's horrific ICE abuses and to demand accountability for the deaths of 45 individuals who have died within the custody of DHS since the start of 2025. Mr. Speaker, 2025 was the deadliest year for ICE detention in two decades with 37 total deaths. Already in 2026, eight more individuals have died, including the murders of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. The American public is outraged at the brutality of ICE, and they demand accountability. According to polls, 76 percent of Americans, including 79 percent of Latinos, have seen the video footage of the murder of Renee Nicole Good. Mr. Speaker, 57 percent of Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, disapprove of the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws. Put simply, ICE is out of control. The number of people with no criminal records being detained is 16 times greater than in previous administrations. Mr. Speaker, 92 percent of individuals recently held in ICE detention have no criminal conviction whatsoever. More than 170 U.S. citizens have been wrongfully detained at raids and protests. More than 20 of them were held incommunicado for a specific period of time without being able to call their loved ones or an attorney. DHS is now claiming they can enter anyone's home without a warrant signed by a judge, clearly ignoring the Fourth Amendment of our Constitution. A recent memo distorting the truth was circulated to our offices. Still, congressional Republicans continue to fund this rogue agency without restraint. Congress already gave ICE $75 billion through the 2025 reconciliation bill. They paid for the slush fund by cutting healthcare and nutrition assistance while giving tax cuts to rich millionaires and billionaires. This Chamber has decided to continue funding for ICE without any accountability whatsoever. As we begin negotiating to fund DHS for the rest of the year, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is unified in demanding real accountability provisions, including requiring ICE agents to identify themselves, prohibiting agents from wearing masks during enforcement, restricting the use of deadly force, strengthening hiring and training standards, enforcing humanitarian standards in ICE custody, and protecting sensitive locations. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus stand united in opposition to giving ICE one more cent without meaningful reform. In fact, I think ICE should be dismantled altogether. We are finalizing a bill that would do just that. It would rescind the agency's funding and rebuild it from the ground up. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar).