Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)
Contact
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3553
Last 5 Actions
Cosponsored S. 916: Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act (March 10, 2025)
Cosponsored S. 193: Neighbors Not Enemies Act (March 5, 2025)
Cosponsored S. 696: A bill to provide temporary Ukrainian guest status for eligible aliens, and for other purposes. (Feb. 25, 2025)
Cosponsored S. 646: Born in the USA Act (Feb. 20, 2025)
Cosponsored S. 455: Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (Feb. 6, 2025)
S. 391: Access to Counsel Act of 2025 (Feb. 4, 2025)
S. 3712: A bill to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to treat United States Citizenship and Immigration Services field offices as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes. (Jan. 31, 2024)
S. 2606: Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 (July 27, 2023)
S. 1667: America's CHILDREN Act of 2023 (May 17, 2023)
S. 1392: Citizenship for Essential Workers Act (May 1, 2023)
S. 1343: Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act (April 27, 2023)
S. 342: Access to Counsel Act of 2023 (Feb. 9, 2023)
S. 916: Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act (March 10, 2025)
S. 193: Neighbors Not Enemies Act (March 5, 2025)
S. 696: A bill to provide temporary Ukrainian guest status for eligible aliens, and for other purposes. (Feb. 25, 2025)
S. 646: Born in the USA Act (Feb. 20, 2025)
S. 455: Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (Feb. 6, 2025)
S.Res. 67: A resolution declaring racism a public health crisis. (Feb. 6, 2025)
S. 398: NO BAN Act (Feb. 4, 2025)
S. 4961: NO BAN Act (Aug. 1, 2024)
S.Con.Res. 39: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that individuals who have been wrongfully or unjustly deported from the United States who established significant ties to the United States through years of life in the United States deserve a chance to come home to reunite with loved ones through a fair and centralized process within the Department of Homeland Security. (July 31, 2024)
S. 4773: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024 (July 25, 2024)
S. 4723: Keep Families Together Act (July 23, 2024)
S. 4119: Restricting Solitary Confinement in Immigration Detention Act of 2024 (April 23, 2024)
S. 3987: Stateless Protection Act of 2024 (March 20, 2024)
S. 3714: GRACE Act (Jan. 31, 2024)
S.Res. 506: A resolution commemorating the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. (Dec. 14, 2023)
S. 3211: Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (Nov. 2, 2023)
S. 3181: Michel O. Maceda Memorial Act (Nov. 1, 2023)
S. 3065: Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2023 (Oct. 17, 2023)
S.Res. 346: A resolution honoring the Thai-American garment workers who opened the country's eyes to sweatshop conditions in the United States and, against all odds, expanded rights for immigrant workers and survivors of human trafficking while holding corporations responsible for the conditions in which their clothes are made. (Sept. 18, 2023)
S. 2789: African Diaspora Heritage Month Act of 2023 (Sept. 13, 2023)
S. 2626: MAHSA Act (July 27, 2023)
S. 2646: HEAL for Immigrant Families Act of 2023 (July 27, 2023)
S. 1885: Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act (June 21, 2023)
S. 2038: LIFT the BAR Act of 2023 (June 15, 2023)
S. 1963: College for All Act of 2023 (June 14, 2023)
S.Res. 243: A resolution recognizing the month of June 2023 as "Immigrant Heritage Month", a celebration of the accomplishments and contributions of immigrants and their children in making the United States a healthier, safer, more diverse, prosperous country, and acknowledging the importance of immigrants and their children to the future successes of the United States. (June 8, 2023)
S. 1727: SECURE Act (May 18, 2023)
S. 1600: Border Management, Security, and Assistance Act of 2023 (May 15, 2023)
S. 1187: Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023 (April 18, 2023)
S. 1084: ERRPA (March 30, 2023)
S. 1031: EACH Act of 2023 (March 29, 2023)
S. 309: Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act (Feb. 9, 2023)
S. 5 : Laken Riley Act
On Passage of the Bill -- Voted No (Jan. 20, 2025)
S. 5 : Laken Riley Act
On the Coons Amendment to remove state Attorney General standing to sue to stop administrations from violating provisions of immigration law -- Voted Yes (Jan. 15, 2025)
S. 5 : Laken Riley Act
On the Cornyn amendment to make aliens who assault a law enforcement officer inadmissible and deportable -- Voted No (Jan. 15, 2025)
H.R. 815 : Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.
On the Motion -- Voted Yes (April 23, 2024)
H.R. 815 : Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.
On the Cloture Motion -- Voted Yes (April 23, 2024)
H.R. 815 : Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.
On the Motion to Table -- Voted No (April 23, 2024)
H.R. 2882 : Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
On the Motion to Table -- Voted Yes (March 23, 2024)
H.R. 2882 : Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
On the Motion to Table -- Voted No (March 23, 2024)
H.R. 2882 : Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
On the Motion to Table -- Voted No (March 23, 2024)
H.R. 2882 : Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
On the Motion to Table -- Voted No (March 23, 2024)
H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
On the Motion -- Voted No (March 8, 2024)
H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
On the Motion -- Voted No (March 8, 2024)
H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
On the Cloture Motion -- Voted Yes (March 8, 2024)
H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
On the Motion to Table -- Voted No (March 8, 2024)
H.R. 7463 : Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024
On the Motion -- Voted No (Feb. 29, 2024)
H.R. 7463 : Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024
On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (Feb. 29, 2024)
H.R. 2872 : Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.
On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (Jan. 18, 2024)
H.R. 2872 : Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.
On the Motion -- Voted No (Jan. 18, 2024)
H.R. 2670 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
On the Conference Report -- Voted Yes (Dec. 13, 2023)
H.R. 2670 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
On the Cloture Motion -- Voted Yes (Dec. 12, 2023)
H.R. 2670 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
On the Motion to Table -- Voted No (Dec. 12, 2023)
H.R. 6363 : Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024
On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (Nov. 15, 2023)
H.R. 5860 : Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act
On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (Sept. 30, 2023)
S. 2226 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (July 27, 2023)
S. 2226 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
On the Cloture Motion -- Voted Yes (July 18, 2023)
S.J.Res. 18 : A joint resolution disapproving of the rule submitted by the Department of Homeland Security relating to "Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility".
On the Joint Resolution -- Voted No (May 17, 2023)
Raskin, Padilla, Durbin, Jayapal Statement on SCOTUS Alien Enemies Act Ruling
April 8, 2025Today, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court lifted a hold on removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798:
“The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Trump Administration to move forward with deporting people under the Alien Enemies Act — an archaic wartime law — will unquestionably harm people caught up in this oppressive nightmare.
Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Jamie RaskinHirono, Colleagues Demand Answers, Return of Maryland Father Wrongfully Deported to El Salvador
April 8, 2025Senators: “When the Administration makes a mistake as severe as sending an individual with protected status to a foreign prison, it cannot simply shrug off responsibility and allege that there is nothing it can do to reunite him with his wife and child, who are American citizens.”
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. Ron WydenCortez Masto Joins Colleagues in Calling on Trump Administration to Reinstate TPS for Venezuela
April 7, 2025"U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined 18 of her colleagues in urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to reconsider the Trump Administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans who applied for TPS under its designation in 2023. The Administration’s decision to revoke this critical protection has been temporarily put on hold by a court order, postponing the harm it will cause to approximately 350,000 people who remain at risk of losing TPS."
Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter WelchHirono, Colleagues Push to Stop Sharing of Sensitive Data on Unaccompanied Children to Immigration Enforcement
April 6, 2025Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and 6 colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., sounding the alarm on troubling reports that HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has unlawfully granted expanded access to sensitive data on unaccompanied children and their sponsors to DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Last week—following the Trump Administration’s recent termination of a contract that provides legal services for unaccompanied children who appear in immigrant court—Senator Hirono introduced The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025, legislation to provide unaccompanied children with legal representation when they appear in proceedings before an immigration judge.
Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Adam SchiffVan Hollen, Ivey Lead Bicameral Letter Urging Administration to Continue Legal Protections for Cameroonians in the U.S. Who Have Fled Violence, Humanitarian Disaster
April 4, 2025Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) sent a bicameral letter with over 30 of their colleagues to President Donald Trump urging the Administration to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Cameroonians living legally in the United States, as ongoing violence, instability, and humanitarian crises continue to pose a grave threat to anyone returning to Cameroon. In their letter, the lawmakers highlight that extending and redesignating these protections for Cameroonians already in the U.S. advances American interests in supporting counterterrorism efforts and strengthening our economy.
Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Lois Frankel, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Glenn Ivey, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Hank Johnson, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Seth Moulton, Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Paul Tonko, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Marc Veasey, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Peter WelchMarkey Joins Padilla, Durbin, Welch in Demanding Answers on Dismantling of U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
April 3, 2025Senators to Secretaries Rubio and Noem: “These actions undermine America’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and place thousands of vulnerable individuals—many of whom served alongside U.S. armed forces—at grave risk”
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee, and 17 Senators in condemning the dismantling of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), including a funding freeze that has halted refugee processing and resettlement. The indefinite refugee ban and funding freeze have stranded tens of thousands in dangerous conditions, separated families, and left recently resettled refugees in the United States without the legally required support.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter WelchPadilla, Schiff Urge Attorney General Bondi to Reverse Course on Unjustified Firings of Immigration Judges
March 31, 2025"U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined 64 House and Senate Democrats in urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to reverse the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) alarming decision to fire immigration judges even as the immigration courts currently face a staggering backlog of immigration cases. In February, EOIR abruptly fired 20 immigration judges, removed all nine Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) judges appointed during the Biden Administration, and terminated four individuals in senior EOIR leadership positions, with indications they may remove even more judges."
Rep. Yassamin Ansari, Rep. Becca Balint, Rep. Sanford Bishop, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Gerry Connolly, Rep. Lou Correa, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Warren Davidson, Rep. Danny Davis, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Chuy García, Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Jahana Hayes, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Hank Johnson, Sen. Tim Kaine, Rep. Ro Khanna, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Angus King, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. George Latimer, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Grace Meng, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Rep. Deborah Ross, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Rep. Tom Suozzi, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Jill Tokuda, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. Maxine Waters, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseAfter Visiting Guantanamo Bay, Senators Blast Trump Admin for Wasting Taxpayer Dollars & Misusing Military Resources
March 29, 2025"We salute the outstanding American servicemembers and DHS officials who are working tirelessly at Guantanamo Bay. Our troops in Guantanamo have a uniquely difficult, demanding job that requires great sacrifices by them and their families. We know that border security and immigration enforcement are critical to our national security, and we thank these servicemembers, ICE officers, and defense civilians for their professionalism and candor with us.
“However, after examining the migrant relocation activities at Guantanamo Bay, we are outraged by the scale and wastefulness of the Trump Administration’s misuse of our military. It is obvious that Guantanamo Bay is a likely illegal and certainly illogical location to detain immigrants. Its use is seemingly designed to undermine due process and evade legal scrutiny."
Sen. Angus King, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Jeanne ShaheenPadilla Urges President Trump to Abandon Use of Family Detention
March 19, 2025Senators to Trump: “There is simply no basis for reinstating this cruel, ineffective, and costly practice, particularly when there are effective solutions that, unlike family detention, do not permanently damage children’s health and well-being”
Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Jon Ossoff, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Ron WydenCLARKE, PRESSLEY, VAN HOLLEN LEAD LETTER TO THE ADMINISTRATION DEMANDING REINSTATEMENT OF TPS FOR HAITI
March 18, 2025Today, Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 62 of their colleagues in the House and 23 of their colleagues in the Senate in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding the Trump Administration redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, which the administration recently canceled on questionable legal authority
Rep. Alma Adams, Rep. Gabe Amo, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Don Beyer, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Kathy Castor, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Rep. Danny Davis, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Chuy García, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Jahana Hayes, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Sara Jacobs, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Hank Johnson, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. George Latimer, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Seth Magaziner, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Rep. Seth Moulton, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Mike Quigley, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Bobby Scott, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Tom Suozzi, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Shri Thanedar, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Lori Trahan, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Marc Veasey, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep. Frederica WilsonDurbin, Padilla, Booker, Welch Statement On Trump Invoking The Alien Enemies Act To Target Immigrants Without Due Process
March 17, 2025Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Peter Welch (D-VT) issued the following statement after President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, claiming wartime power to deport noncitizens without due process:
“Over the weekend, President Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport noncitizens without due process. This attempt to use an archaic wartime law—not used since World War II—forimmigration enforcement is yet another unlawful and brazen power grab.
Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Peter WelchPadilla, Schiff Seek Judiciary Committee Hearing as California Prison Whistleblower Raises Alarm on Prison Workers Handling Immigration
March 13, 2025U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) called on Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to convene an urgent hearing on the Trump Administration’s recent decision to detain immigrants without charges or convictions in federal prisons, including in California, after a whistleblower from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) raised the alarm on its negative impact on BOP employees in a statement shared with the Senators.
Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Adam SchiffDurbin, Raskin, Judiciary Immigration Leaders Challenge Constitutional Basis of Trump's Sham "Invasion" Declaration
March 11, 2025Democratic legislators to Trump: “We call on you to rescind your Proclamation and work with Congress to pass much-needed, overdue bipartisan immigration reform that respects immigrants’ dignity and the rule of law”
Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Jamie RaskinHirono, Ossoff Lead Colleagues in Demanding Trump Administration Ensure Legal Representation for Vulnerable Children in Immigration System
March 10, 2025U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) led 30 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, demanding that the Trump Administration continue legal services for unaccompanied children caught up in the immigration system as required by law. Last month, the Trump Administration issued a stop work order to organizations that provide legal services for unaccompanied children. Later that week, following public pressure, the order was rescinded. In 2023, Senator Hirono reintroduced the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act, legislation to provide unaccompanied children with access to legal representation when they appear in proceedings before an immigration judge.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Mark Kelly, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Jon Ossoff, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. Ron WydenSens. Ossoff, Hirono Lead 32 Senators Demanding Trump Administration Ensure Legal Representation for Vulnerable Children in Immigration System
March 5, 2025"Today, Sens. Ossoff and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) led a group of 32 Senators demanding that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum continue legal services for unaccompanied children caught up in the immigration system as required by law."
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Mark Kelly, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Jon Ossoff, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. Ron WydenDurbin, Senate Judiciary Democrats Press Justice Department On Diversion Of Law Enforcement To Purported Immigration Enforcement Initiative
March 3, 2025"U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in pressing Attorney General Pam Bondi on her reallocation of resources from mission-critical Department of Justice (DOJ) projects to purported “immigration enforcement initiatives."
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon WhitehousePadilla, Durbin, Schiff Blast Trump Administration’s Plan to Use Federal Prisons for Mass Deportation Efforts
Feb. 25, 2025Senate Judiciary Democrats to Attorney General Bondi: “We write to object to the recent decision to use Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities to detain immigrants swept up in the Trump Administration’s mass deportation efforts and urge you to reconsider this plan”
Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Adam SchiffPadilla Denounces President Trump’s Unlawful Transfer of Immigrants to Guantánamo Bay
Feb. 24, 2025“These actions are unprecedented, unlawful, and harmful to American national security, values, and interests. The United States has never sent anyone from the United States to be detained at Guantánamo before now,” wrote the Senators. “… There is no basis in U.S. immigration law for transferring noncitizens arrested inside the United States to a location outside of the United States for detention prior to or for the purposes of conducting removal proceedings.”
Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Chris Murphy, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Peter WelchRosen Leads Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Block Implementation of Trump’s Unconstitutional Attempt to Eliminate Automatic Citizenship for Children Born in the U.S.
Feb. 20, 2025"Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led nine of her colleagues in introducing the Born in the USA Act to effectively block the implementation of President Trump’s unconstitutional Executive Order attempting to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States. This bill would prevent any government funds from being used to carry out or enforce this directive, which violates the U.S. Constitution. Senator Rosen was one of the first Congressional leaders to come out forcefully against the President’s birthright citizenship Executive Order. Federal courts have temporarily blocked the order’s implementation, but the Trump Administration is expected to appeal."
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Peter WelchHeinrich, Schatz Lead Colleagues in Demanding Trump’s DHS Immediately End Wrongful ICE Searches & Harassment of Tribal Members, Uphold U.S. Trust and Treaty Responsibility with Tribal Nations
Feb. 20, 2025"U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Vice Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, led 13 of their Democratic colleagues in demanding that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uphold the United States’ trust and treaty responsibility with Tribal nations and their citizens by ending wrongful searches and interrogations of Tribal members."
Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Ron WydenCortez Masto Joins Bicameral Legislation to Ensure Access to Counsel When Lawfully Entering the United States
Feb. 5, 2025"U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and 13 of her colleagues in introducing the Access to Counsel Act to ensure that U.S. citizens, green card holders, and other individuals with legal status can consult with an attorney, relative, or other relevant party to seek assistance if they are detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for more than an hour at a port of entry, including an airport. The bill was introduced in conjunction with the NO BAN Act, legislation to prevent another Muslim Ban."
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Alex PadillaPadilla Introduces Bicameral Legislation to Ensure Access to Legal Counsel When Entering the United States
Feb. 4, 2025"Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, introduced the Access to Counsel Act to ensure that U.S. citizens, green card holders, and other individuals with legal status can consult with an attorney, relative, or other interested parties to seek assistance if they are detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for more than an hour at ports of entry, including airports. U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives."
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Sen. Alex PadillaSens. Padilla, Schiff Introduce Bill to Ensure Access to Legal Counsel for Persons Detained at Ports of Entry
Feb. 4, 2025"U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) in introducing the Access to Counsel Act to ensure that U.S. citizens, green card holders, and other individuals with legal status can consult with an attorney, relative, or other interested parties to seek assistance if they are detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for more than an hour at ports of entry, including airports. Padilla is the lead sponsor of this bill. U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives."
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Adam SchiffIn Bicameral Letter, Ranking Members Call on Secretary Rubio to Immediately Restore Refugee Resettlement Services
Jan. 29, 2025"Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, along with Sen. Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Alex Padilla, Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately restore vital services for refugees already in the United States. The letter comes after the State Department abruptly halted services for refugees last week."
Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Jamie RaskinPadilla Statement on Trump Executive Orders on Immigration
Jan. 21, 2025“All Americans will feel the impacts of Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, creating chaos and fear in communities across our country, while also driving up costs for businesses and consumers. We can all agree that we need a secure and orderly border, however these executive actions only further complicate that effort — and many of them violate the rights guaranteed by our Constitution. So make no mistake: it won’t be long before a policy of chaos costs the American people.”
Sen. Alex PadillaPadilla Statement on Senate Passage of Laken Riley Act
Jan. 20, 2025“This bill puts a target on the backs of millions of people, including children, requiring mandatory detention of immigrants who are arrested even for minor, non-violent offenses — even if they are never charged or convicted. Good faith efforts to improve this legislation were rejected. As it stands, the bill would divert the focus and resources away from the detention and deportation of violent criminals, making us all less safe."
Sen. Alex PadillaHirono, Padilla, Merkley Statement on Passage of Laken Riley Act
Jan. 20, 2025Lawmakers: “Our country needs comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform. Rather than fixing our broken immigration system, this legislation will further complicate it.”
Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Alex PadillaDurbin, Senators File Amendment To Protect Dreamers In The Laken Riley Act
Jan. 14, 2025U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today filed two amendments to the Laken Riley Actto protect Dreamers, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients and individuals eligible for DACA.
Durbin’s first amendment would exempt Dreamers, including DACA recipients and individuals eligible for DACA, from the Laken Riley Act’s mandatory detention scheme. Joining Durbin on this amendment is Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Durbin’s second amendment is the Dream and Promise Act, which is bipartisan legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders. It has previously passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis, led by U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29). Joining Durbin on this amendment are Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Ron WydenSenators Luján, Cortez Masto, Padilla Host Press Conference Highlighting Urgent Need for President Biden to Protect TPS, DACA Recipients
Dec. 11, 2024"Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) hosted a press conference with Andrea Flores from FWD.us and Jose Cabrera, a TPS holder from El Salvador. The Senators called on President Joe Biden to act quickly to protect TPS (Temporary Protected Status) and DACA recipients before the end of his term."
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Alex PadillaSenate Democrats demand amnesty protections in Biden lame duck
Dec. 10, 2024"As Senators who represent diverse states across our nation and who collectively represent
millions of immigrant families, we write to express our deep concern about the threat the
incoming administration poses to immigrants in our communities. Mass deportations would
jeopardize the safety and security of millions of mixed-status families, sow deep distrust and fear
in the communities we represent, and destabilize the U.S. economy. While we support commonsense steps to better secure our borders and improve border processing, we will continue to
oppose any policies that contradict our nation’s core values."
Padilla Condemns Trump Mass Deportation Plan and its Impacts on American Families and Economy
Dec. 10, 2024"Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, joined a hearing titled “How Mass Deportations Will Separate American Families, Harm Our Armed Forces, and Devastate Our Economy,” to deliver remarks and question witnesses on the dangers of the incoming Trump Administration’s mass deportation plans."
Sen. Alex PadillaPadilla, Senate Congressional Hispanic Caucus Colleagues Press Biden Administration for Immediate Action to Protect Immigrant Communities
Dec. 4, 2024"Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) called on President Biden to take urgent actions to protect long-term immigrant communities before the end of his term.
Specifically, the Senators called on the Biden-Harris Administration to designate Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Ecuador for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), as well as expedite processing times for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients seeking to renew their status. These proposed actions would be important steps to help protect immigrants from being forced back to dangerous conditions."
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Alex PadillaCardin, Van Hollen Lead Senate Call for Humanitarian Protections for Guatemalans Living in the U.S.
Oct. 15, 2024"U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Van Hollen (both D-Md.), along with more than a dozen other senators, wrote to President Joe Biden requesting that his administration “provide temporary humanitarian protections for Guatemalan nationals living in the United States.” The letter asks for the president to designate Temporary Protected Status for Guatemala or authorize Deferred Enforced Departure for Guatemalan nationals."
Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Ben Cardin, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Chris Murphy, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Mark WarnerPadilla Statement on 5th Circuit DACA Case Oral Arguments
Oct. 10, 2024"Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, issued the following statement as oral arguments were heard in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the Texas v. United States case on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:
“Dreamers are integral members of our communities and culture, working essential jobs, contributing billions to our economy, and keeping our families safe. They do all this despite not knowing what their future holds. Today is yet another reminder of the fear and uncertainty caused by these obstructive lawsuits."
Sen. Alex PadillaLofgren, Padilla, CA Dems Request Congressional Status Conference on CA Detention Centers Before Renewal Deadline
Oct. 8, 2024"U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla today led six of their California Democratic Congressional Delegation colleagues in requesting a Congressional Status Conference before December 2024, when the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contract governing the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center and Golden State Annex is up for renewal. This follows years of reported abuse allegations and retaliatory behavior toward detainees at the facilities, including a formal civil liberties complaint, reports of denied access to attorneys, hunger strikes and subsequent facility transfers, and worker strikes."
Rep. Nanette Barragán, Rep. Lou Correa, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Juan VargasDurbin, Padilla Engage In Refugee Consultation With Biden-Harris Administration
Sept. 24, 2024"U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, today participated in the statutorily-required refugee consultation between the Biden-Harris Administration and House and Senate Judiciary Committee leadership. The Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. is on track to welcome 100,000 arrivals this fiscal year—marking the highest number of resettled refugees since 1994. The Administration also announced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 refugee admissions target of 125,000."
Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Alex Padilla