Congressional Hispanic Caucus Whip Sylvia Garcia and Chairman Adriano Espaillat Condemn Republican Hearing Targeting Children's Right to Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Whip Sylvia Garcia and Chairman Adriano Espaillat released the following statement in response to the Republican-led House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government's hearing opposing Plyler v. Doe, the Supreme Court decision that guarantees free public education to children in the U.S. no matter their immigration status:

"The Congressional Hispanic Caucus strongly condemns the Republican-led House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government for holding a hearing to undermine Plyler v. Doe, the landmark Supreme Court decision that guarantees every child in this country access to a free public education.

"Even entertaining the idea of overturning Plyler v. Doe sends a chilling message to children and families across this country. It tells children that they can be denied a public education because of their immigration status, even though they did nothing wrong, and be excluded from school and denied the chance to build a future.

"Plyler v. Doe is rooted in one of the most fundamental principles of our Constitution. No state shall deny any person equal protection under the law. The Supreme Court made clear that children, regardless of immigration status, are persons under our Constitution and cannot be punished for circumstances beyond their control.

"This is about children. Children brought here through no fault of their own, who grew up in our communities and know no other home. Denying them an education does not solve a problem. It creates one. It betrays our values as a nation that believes in opportunity, fairness, and basic human dignity.

"The Congressional Hispanic Caucus stands firmly in defense of Plyler v. Doe, our Constitution, and the basic principle that every child deserves access to an education. We will fight any effort to strip children of that right."