In the News

I came to this country as a young child and became a citizen in my early twenties. Becoming an American was the greatest honor of my life and I am eternally grateful for all this country has provided for me and my family. I have experienced our immigration system firsthand and that is why I come to work in Washington D.C. every day to find real, common-sense solutions for the issues we are facing today. When I was growing up, I knew what a privilege it was to be in this country, and I have committed my life to giving back to the community that has led me to where I am today.

The GOP is complaining about the border "crisis" while blocking immigration reform. Meanwhile, many Republicans are ramping up anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of the election, and planning to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the border. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) and Matthew Dowd join Joy to discuss.

Three gay Democratic U.S. congressmen have sent a letter to the Department of Defense demanding a quicker response to resolving cases of LGBTQ+ people dishonorably expelled from the military under the former “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and the outright ban that preceded it. Signed by California Democratic U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia, the first out immigrant elected to Congress and the president of the most recent class of new legislators; Rep. Mark Pocan, the chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus from Wisconsin; and out Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, the letter was sent to Secretary Lloyd J. Austin.

Former President Trump told his supporters during a rally in Nevada that he is fine with being blamed for tanking the bipartisan border bill currently negotiated in the Senate.  [...] Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) had similar thoughts when reacting to Trump’s address in Nevada. “He would rather have chaos, he would rather have nothing happen, than actually some type of solution,” Garcia said during his appearance on CNN Saturday.

[...] "Our service members made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was a policy that should have never existed in the first place, but we're unfortunately still feeling the repercussions of it to this day. Now, the Department of Defense has the responsibility to uplift LGBTQ+ veterans who were previously degraded because of their sexuality," Garcia said.

Students who didn’t have a chance to enroll in college immediately after graduating high school will soon get additional help navigating higher education at Long Beach City College thanks to a $4 million federal grant. The U.S. Department of Education grant, which Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, and LBCC Superintendent-President Mike Muñoz announced during a press conference this week, will allow the college to establish a new “Success and Completion Achievement Network.” [...] “This significant investment will enhance the college experience for non-traditional and students of color here in Long Beach,” Garcia, who helped secure the grant, said in the Monday, Jan. 22, press release. “We need to make sure all of the students in our community have the tools and support necessary for their academic success, which means using new approaches and funding to meaningfully uplift our students of color.”

[...] Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, whose 42nd Congressional District includes Bellflower and other southeast cities, described the transit line as one of the "most important projects" in the county. The transit line will ensure there's economic stability and growth for the region, he added.

Out California U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia voiced on Thursday serious concerns over financial benefits from foreign governments that former President Donald Trump and his family may have received.