Contributors: Carlos Colao, Ana Blackstad, Michael Ramos
With the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, President Trump has nominated Brett M. Kavanaugh, who currently serves as a circuit judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, as Kennedy’s replacement on the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Hispanic Caucus of Democrats Abroad strongly opposes Judge Kavanaugh to fill such an important lifetime appointment role.
Time and again Judge Kavanaugh has sided with corporations, those violating human rights and civil rights, and polluters. In fact, Kavanaugh appears to be on friendly terms with everyone except people of color.
Judge Kavanaugh’s record on Latino issues specifically may not be so obvious—but what is well known is his consistent anti-immigrant stance. Dissenting on the Agri Professor v. NLRB court decision, Kavanaugh made clear his negative thoughts on undocumented immigrants as workers in America. He offered similar thoughts in Garza v. Hargan in his opinion of an underage immigrant seeking an abortion. Put simply, immigrants and their rights should be protected by our federal government, not shunned, as Kavanaugh’s views repeatedly demonstrate.
With the president himself currently under investigation by the FBI, this judicial nomination should not proceed. Despite these troubles, Senate Republicans wish to expedite Kavanaugh’s appointment without a single hearing to date. This is far from the desire of the American people, including those of us who live outside the U.S. but still have a voice in government.
Upon reviewing Judge Kavanaugh’s judicial record, it is clear that the president nominated Judge Kavanaugh because he would most likely be a rubber stamp for the president’s many anti-Latino positions. For this reason, all senators should oppose this nominee with extremist views for the vacant associate justice position on the United States Supreme Court. We encourage all Americans living abroad to contact both of your U.S. senators and take action as instructed here.
Para la versión en español: https://www.democratsabroad.org/declaracion_caucus_hispano_kavanaugh