Joaquin Castro

At the same time, I believe that this piece of legislation offers false hope to families, rather than pursues real meaningful, effective policy.

This amendment would exclude three categories of individuals from the bill's provisions: First, the disabled; second, religious minorities fleeing religious persecution from certain countries; and, finally, Ukrainians fleeing the Russian…

We have to come up with immigration reform that is humanitarian, that is diplomatic, and that is equal.

That is just immoral and it is pernicious.

We refuse to understand that Latin America's problems are our problems--their prosperity is our prosperity.

I believe it is getting dangerous. I believe in some instances it is getting hysterical.

It would also include, this bill, my amendment, Ukrainians displaced by Russia's unprovoked invasion into Ukraine, making sure that they can stay here in the United States as their asylum claims are processed.

The bill as it is currently written would force people with disabilities who are able to make it to the United States, would send them back to places like Mexico or Guatemala where there is no infrastructure for actually medically treating…

I strongly oppose this bill. I believe that the United States must play a vital role in the western hemisphere's shared challenge of forced migration.

I have an amendment at the desk.

I believe that a lot of it is animated by racism and bigotry.

This amendment would protect people like the Rohingya in Burma, the Catholics in Nicaragua, the Uyghurs in China whom many of us have spoken about concern for on multiple committees in this Congress, and other religious minorities.

That seeking asylum is a basic human right.

Americans are at risk because they're being denied the right to vote.

I believe they attempt to solve a problem without actually fixing it.

This amendment is simple. It would subject any such agreements to Senate ratification before they go into effect.

The Second Amendment is not a suicide packet and, like every other part of the Constitution, is subject to qualification in certain circumstances.

Guns are now a leading cause of death among children in our country, not any other country.

We need to enact those laws.

How many children have to be murdered before we're willing to ban the chosen weapon of school shooters?

Unfortunately, decades of underfunding and legislative roadblocks have made it impossible for the critical Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to fulfill its duties.

Let's be clear, more guns are not a solution. That is a myth perpetuated by an industry that wants to sell more guns.

No community is truly safe from gun violence when our leaders have done so very little to prevent it.

This, of course, is an important opportunity to demonstrate U.S. leadership in the region.

I have no more speakers, and I am ready to close. I reserve the balance of my time.