Rep. Lofgren Issues Statement in Response to Ruling in Castaneda v. U.S.
Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) today issued the following statement in response to a recent ruling by the United States District for the Central District of California in Castaneda v. U.S., et al.
The U.S. District Courts ruling in Castaneda v. U.S. demonstrates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) failed to provide even the most basic care to Mr. Castaneda. The court described the government's actions in this case as “misleading,”“callous,” and “cruel" and suggested that this lack of treatment directly resulted in Mr. Castaneda’s death.
Our government has a constitutional and moral responsibility to provide a minimum standard of care to all those that are in its custody. Thousands of people end up in ICE custody every year, many for administrative and paperwork related mistakes. Their detention should not be a death sentence.
In a country that prides itself as a beacon of freedom and democracy, the fact that ICE officials refused to provide basic medical care to those in its custody should be seen as nothing less than shameful.
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren is serving her seventh term in Congress representing most of the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County. She serves as Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. She also Chairs the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections and serves on the House Homeland Security Committee. Congresswoman Lofgren is Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation consisting of 34 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives from California.
