Rep. Chu: On May Day, Chu, Booker, Jayapal Lead Bicameral Effort Urging DHS to Increase Transparency of U.S. Detention System

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, May Day, as thousands of protestors across the country march and organize for immigrant rights, Rep. Judy Chu, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) led a bicameral effort in Congress pushing the Department of Homeland Security to be more transparent with its detention processes.

In a letter to DHS Secretary John Kelly that was signed by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Al Franken (D-MN), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and more than 30 House Members, the lawmakers expressed concern over the expansion of immigration detention facilities and the conflicting messages coming out of DHS.

The letter also urges Secretary Kelly to "explore alternatives to detention, such as release and release on reasonable bond, to help reduce the detained population and develop a concrete oversight plan to protect the human rights of those in detention."

Other members of the House of Representatives signing onto the letter are as follows:

Nanette Diaz Barragan

Earl Blumenauer

Michael E. Capuano

Tony Cárdenas

David N. Cicilline

John Conyers, Jr.

Suzan K. DelBene

Theodore E. Deutch

Lloyd Doggett

Dwight Evans

Raúl M. Grijalva

Luis V. Gutiérrez

Denny Heck

Ro Khanna

Derek Kilmer

Zoe Lofgren

James P. McGovern

Gwen S. Moore

Frank Pallone, Jr.

Donald M. Payne, Jr.

Jared Polis

Mike Quigley

Jamie Raskin

Bobby L. Rush

Jan Schakowsky

Adam Smith

Norma J. Torres

Marc Veasey

Nydia M. Velázquez

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Bonnie Watson Coleman