Rep. Don Beyer today wrote to Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General (IG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, asking that he expand the investigation into the reports of neglect, and both physical and sexual abuse at shelters housing migrant children. Rep. Beyer urged Levinson to review how the federal government maintains and evaluates contracts with the facilities after concerns of abuse were raised. Further, Rep. Beyer asked the IG to investigate communication and agency guida... Read more

Rep. Don Beyer today released the following statement on the close of the fifth annual Immigration Heritage Month: “Immigrant Heritage Month celebrates the fact that the United States is a nation of immigrants, built by immigrants. Sadly, too many people in positions of power have forgotten this core facet of America’s identity, or worse, are working to end it. During June, I met parents who haven’t seen their children in months because of policies put in place by the Trump Administration. I spo... Read more

Falls Church News Press Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Don Beyer was joined by eight Congressional colleagues at the Crystal City Immigration Court in Arlington to witness first hand the immigration proceedings involving children, many separated from their parents and lacking legal counsel. Present with Beyer were Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-CA). Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA), Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rep. Gra... Read more

ARL Now Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) and some of his Democratic colleagues believe most children up for a hearing at Arlington’s immigration court are being treated fairly — but they worry that could soon change. Beyer, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and several other members of Congress sat in for some hearings at the federal immigration court in Crystal City today (Thursday), and broadly came away pleased with what they saw, despite the chaos surrounding the Trump administration’s recent pr... Read more

Rep. Don Beyer today led 77 Democrats in a letter to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Director Scott Lloyd. They sought answers regarding allegations of mistreatment toward migrant children currently in the custody of ORR, and expressed concerns about ORR’s process of releasing children, which is exacerbating family separation. The letter asked HHS and ORR to address the allegations, and allow Members to meet the... Read more

Frustrated and concerned Democratic lawmakers want a briefing from the federal agencies in charge of reuniting immigrant families, saying they have been given scant to no information about the scores of children now strewn across their states or the government's plan to reconnect them with their parents. As of Tuesday, Health and Human Services, which oversees the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the agency in charge of the children, said it still has 2,047 separated kids in its custody. Over the... Read more

Rep. Don Beyer today issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Trump v. Hawaii: “I believe that the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Donald Trump’s Muslim ban will go down as one of the worst mistakes in the Court’s history. Chief Justice Roberts and the Justices who concurred in his opinion chose to intentionally overlook the obvious animus of bigotry which was the sole motivation for every iteration of the Muslim ban. It is clear in hindsight that prejudice was th... Read more

AP Dozens of Democratic lawmakers demanded explanations Tuesday from the Department of Health and Human Services after charges that immigrant teenagers were handcuffed and beaten in federal custody. Seventy-seven House members signed a letter from Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia seeking answers about allegations of abuses reported by The Associated Press and other news organizations. Sworn statements from six Latino teens described incidents from 2015 to 2018 under the Obama and Trump administrations... Read more

CNN Rep. Don Beyer, a Democrat from Virginia, urged Congress to act and overturn the Supreme Court's ruling to uphold President Trump's travel ban. "Congress has to act," he said. "We have to overturn what the Supreme Court has done. We cannot let this stand." Beyer called the ban "racist" and "immoral," adding that the court's decision today was "disappointing and it’s wrong." "And if the Supreme Court’s going to do this, it’s up to Congress to pass the Freedom of Religion (Restoration) Act, wh... Read more

Washington Post Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) discussed his June 21 visit to the Anne Arundel Detention Center in Maryland, which contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold detained immigrants, most of whom are awaiting court proceedings or deportation. Click here to watch the video Read more