Juan Vargas

This is yet another example of this President weaponizing the Department of Justice to target his critics and political opponents. It is a total abuse of power. Full stop.

Our nation’s story can’t be told without the story of the Indigenous people who first called this land home. On Indigenous Peoples' Day, we honor the history, contributions, and resilience of Indigenous communities across the country. We must continue to work towards a future rooted in justice and equality.

I fully agree with the Catholic bishops and other faith leaders. I would expect to see this from a terror group or dictators, but not here in the United States. Livestreaming an execution is not a show of our country's strength. It is a medieval and grotesque spectacle that corrupts our society and core values. We are better than this. Secretary Hegseth is not fit to lead. He must go.

As the USS Lincoln returned yesterday, we welcomed home our service members who endured a long and difficult 321-day deployment. These heroes served our country with honor, bravery, and integrity. However, the conditions they faced while deployed were completely unacceptable. We still need answers from the Department of Defense about how things got so bad. We also need the DOD’s Office of Inspector General to review the process and decisions surrounding the extended deployment. What is the DOD doing to prevent this from happening again? It’s past time for clear answers. Our service members should never be put in a situation like this again and we need full accountability.

Talking about an attack on San Diego AGAIN is a deranged way for Trump to try to clean up his comments from Monday. This is inexcusable. 25th Amendment now.

Today marks the solemn anniversary of the October 7th Hamas terror attack on Israel. Three years later, we remember and honor the 1,200 innocent lives lost and the hundreds of hostages abducted. My prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone around the world devastated by that horrific day.

Absolutely disgusting and deranged. The families that call San Diego home - including over 115,000 active duty service members - are not a "small price to pay." This is unacceptable coming from the President of the United States.

More threats from Trump as a way to cover up his own failed economic policies. This report confirms: the investigation into Jerome Powell was baseless from the start. The attempts to intimidate the Federal Reserve and attack its independence must stop.

Horrible and heartbreaking. We can never accept this as normal.

This report confirms what we feared was true: ICE has wasted tens of millions of dollars pursuing Trump’s inhumane plans to rapidly increase detention capacity by buying up facilities from private prison contractors, including CoreCivic. (2/5)

Wasting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars is bad enough on its own, but it’s even more concerning when you consider the fact that Trump is invested in these companies. (3/5)

He first purchased CoreCivic stock in 2025 and has continued to buy and sell shares of private prison companies valued at between $281,000 and $990,000. At the same time, Trump’s own Admin keeps giving these companies taxpayer dollars. That is a huge conflict of interest. (4/5)

Trump’s DHS has wasted taxpayer dollars to carry out a cruel mass detention and deportation scheme all while Trump is personally profiting from the federal government’s dealings with private prison companies. We need answers now. (5/5)

This is exactly why I demanded answers on CoreCivic’s recent sale of the Otay Mesa Detention Center to the government and questioned why DHS purchased OMDC for $739.2 million – more than 4x more than the property’s assessed value of $168 million. (1/5) https://t.co/7pReJlJ7mh

I am disgusted by this. Antisemitism, hate, and bigotry have absolutely no place in our communities. https://t.co/WpV3xkrbhF

Schools should be a safe place for kids to learn, NOT the backdrop to immigration enforcement. Thanks to my San Diego delegation colleagues for standing with me to demand an end to ICE enforcement near campuses. https://t.co/RTgxXHfYcq

Schools should be safe places for students to learn and grow. But since the start of the school year, there have been multiple disturbing incidents where ICE agents have detained parents and students near campuses across San Diego County. It's beyond unacceptable. This isn't making our communities safer. It's just traumatizing our children. I'm calling for an end to immigration enforcement around schools with @SenAlexPadilla, @SenAdamSchiff, @RepScottPeters, @RepSaraJacobs, and @RepMikeLevin.

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Scott Peters (CA-50), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Mike Levin (CA-49) and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement activity around schools and educational institutions in San Diego County. Since the start of the school year, there have been disturbing incidents where ICE agents have detained parents and students near educational institutions, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of students, parents, families, and educators. “Parents should be able to drop their children off at school without fearing detention, and students should be able to attend class without encountering federal immigration enforcement around their campus,” wrote the lawmakers. “Schools and institutions of higher education have long been places where students feel safe enough to learn, belong, and achieve their academic dreams without their lives being uprooted. Schools should not become the backdrop for immigration enforcement activity, nor should parents have to choose between bringing their children to school and fearing that they may be detained in the process,” the lawmakers continued. “As back to school season continues, we demand that you end all ICE activity in the immediate vicinity of schools and college campuses, particularly during school arrival and dismissal times.” The full letter is available HERE and below: Dear Secretary Mullin, We write in strong opposition to the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement activity in and around schools and educational institutions in San Diego County. Over the past several weeks, ICE agents have detained parents and students near multiple educational institutions, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of our students, parents, families, and educators. Parents should be able to drop their children off at school without fearing detention, and students should be able to attend class without encountering federal immigration enforcement around their campus. According to the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), on September 9, ICE agents detained two parents after they dropped off their children at John Marshall Elementary School in Chollas Creek. And this is not an isolated incident. During last year’s back-to-school season, several parents were also arrested by ICE or other federal agents while on their way to or from school pick-up and drop-off lines. These concerns extend to institutions of higher education as well. On September 8, the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) confirmed that ICE arrested one individual and pursued another near a college campus. College officials confirmed that the driver and passengers were students at San Diego City College. Schools have reported that the presence of ICE officials outside a college campus is highly disruptive and can discourage students from attending classes and accessing campus resources. These incidents are concerning because immigration enforcement activity near schools can have an impact on all students and families, even when enforcement does not occur directly on school property. ICE activity near schools destabilizes the sense of safety schools offer and places an additional burden on school staff and local communities. The fear among students and families that these incidents cause can also likely negatively impact a student’s educational engagement, mental and physical health, academic performance, and developmental trajectories. Schools and institutions of higher education have long been places where students feel safe enough to learn, belong, and achieve their academic dreams without their lives being uprooted. Schools should not become the backdrop for immigration enforcement activity, nor should parents have to choose between bringing their children to school and fearing that they may be detained in the process. As back to school season continues, we demand that you end all ICE activity in the immediate vicinity of schools and college campuses, particularly during school arrival and dismissal times. ###

Wishing everyone observing Yom Kippur here in CA-52 and across the globe a meaningful day and an easy fast. G'mar Chatima Tovah.

Disgraceful. Climate change is here and now, causing extreme weather and devastation. We need action to tackle the climate crisis and ensure we’re leaving a better world for the next generation.

Mail-in ballots are a safe and secure way to vote. Donald Trump himself voted by mail last month. This is a win, and we’ll keep fighting to protect this right for all.

Trump also promised DOGE checks and tariff checks. Neither happened. This Administration isn't offering real solutions to help families struggling in Trump's failed economy. Just more empty promises.

From @Forbes - 'It's Outrageous': Juan Vargas Blasts GOP Over $40 Trillion National Debt, Rising Cost of Living Under Trump and Republicans, billionaires get tax cuts while families across the country struggle to make ends meet. It's beyond unacceptable. https://t.co/IvbwjJJVbH

25 years ago, September 11th changed our nation forever. Today, we remember and honor the thousands of lives lost, the survivors, the families whose lives were forever changed, and our brave first responders who rushed towards danger to help others. We will #NeverForget.

I'm also proud to lead legislation in Congress to block federal agencies from handing over sensitive housing data to ICE. Our personal data should never be mined and weaponized to fuel a cruel mass deportation agenda.