Congressman Juan Vargas

Congressman Juan Vargas

@vargas.house.gov

Proudly representing the people of south San Diego County in the U.S. House of Representatives. Former CA State Senator, Assembly Member, and SD City Council Member.

11.9K followers210 following523 posts

ICE enforcement near schools in San Diego isn't making us safer. It's just terrorizing our students. I led the SD Congressional delegation in calling for an end to this, and it was an honor to have Senator Schiff in San Diego last week to make it clear: ICE doesn't belong anywhere near our schools.

Glad to join Sweetwater Authority to celebrate National City Wells’ new treatment system. Investing in reliable local water infrastructure is an investment in the future of our communities. I’m proud to have helped secure over $950,000 in federal funding to help improve water quality.

Our nation’s story can’t be told without the story of the Indigenous communities who first called this land home. On Indigenous Peoples' Day, we honor their history, contributions, culture, and resilience. We must continue to work towards a future firmly 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 dictator, but not here in the United States.

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com

The Defense Department’s announcement that it would live-stream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan reverses decades of established practice surrounding the death penalty. The announcement has raised many legal and ethical questions. https://wapo.st/4dx3CoZ

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.

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.

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.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump: "With the war, it's just artificial. It's a little bit high. It's a small price to pay ... let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay."

Congressman Juan Vargas reposted

Health care premiums skyrocketed this year because Republicans refused to extend ACA tax credits that help Americans afford their health insurance. Republicans continue to prioritize the needs of their billionaire friends over hardworking American families.

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 four times more than the property’s assessed value of $168 million. (1/5)

cbsnews.comICE wasted millions of taxpayer dollars in rapid push to expand detention capacity, government watchdog findsWith an unprecedented budget, ICE spent billions in a rush to expand its detention network, wasting millions in the process, the Government Accountability Office found.
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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 four times more than the property’s assessed value of $168 million. (1/5)

cbsnews.comICE wasted millions of taxpayer dollars in rapid push to expand detention capacity, government watchdog findsWith an unprecedented budget, ICE spent billions in a rush to expand its detention network, wasting millions in the process, the Government Accountability Office found.

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)

School should be a safe place for students to learn and grow. But since the start of the school year, there have been multiple incidents where ICE agents have detained parents and students near campuses across San Diego County. It's unacceptable.

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.

Congressman Juan Vargas reposted

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.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

VARGAS: Does giving people $5,000 increase the deficit or debt? BESSENT: I believe there are ways to do it without increasing the debt or deficit VARGAS: Such as? BESSENT: That's in process right now VARGAS: So it's somehow mysteriously or magically occur?

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.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

VARGAS: Does giving people $5,000 increase the deficit or debt? BESSENT: I believe there are ways to do it without increasing the debt or deficit VARGAS: Such as? BESSENT: That's in process right now VARGAS: So it's somehow mysteriously or magically occur?

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 joined an amicus brief to say the IRS should never be sharing taxpayer data with ICE. A federal appeals court just agreed with us. This is a win, and we'll keep fighting to stop the Trump Admin from terrorizing our immigrant communities.

thehill.comAppeals court upholds ruling barring IRS from sharing data with ICEA federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling blocking information sharing between the IRS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the immigration agency requested the …

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.

On Labor Day, we honor the workers throughout our history who fought for dignity on the job and their accomplishments, including the 8-hour workday and safer working conditions. I'm committed to ensuring that every worker’s voice is heard in Congress.

I capped off August by celebrating Latanya Nowatnick as Constituent of the Month! Latanya is the co-founder of Chula Vista Women’s Collective and Casa de Otay, a coffee shop and welcoming gathering space in our district.

Her entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to helping others have made a lasting impact. It was an honor to recognize the incredible work Latanya does especially during National Black Business Month, a time to celebrate and uplift the vital contributions of Black-owned businesses in CA and beyond.

It was great to join Southwestern College to celebrate the grand opening of its new transit hub, which will help improve access to the Chula Vista campus. I’m proud to have secured half a million dollars in federal funding to help make this project a reality.

Oswaldo Pirela is a husband, a father, and a minor league coach for the Padres. He came to this country legally, sought asylum, and has built a life here. ICE just detained him. This is an outrage, and Oswaldo should be reunited with his family immediately.

nbcnews.comSan Diego Padres minor-league catching coordinator detained by ICE in TexasOswaldo Pirela is a Venezuelan former pro who works for the San Diego Padres. Relatives say he is in the United States legally and demand his release.

For too many families, access to affordable housing is out of reach. That's why I fought to pass the most comprehensive housing reform package in decades to boost our housing supply, increase homeownership opportunities, and lower costs. It's now law.

I am proud to sign onto legislation to force a vote on the American Dream and Promise Act. Dreamers strengthen our communities, contribute to our economy, and have built their lives here. It's past time for permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.

Thank you to everyone who joined my telephone town hall last week with Supervisor Paloma Aguirre. Together, we discussed the urgent issue of pollution in the Tijuana River and federal and local efforts to combat it.

Two deadly ICE shootings in less than a week. A month ago, Republicans in Congress gave ICE another $70 billion as they continue to terrorize our communities. I'm absolutely outraged. We must NEVER accept this as normal. We need a full investigation, accountability, and justice.

cbsnews.comMan fatally shot by ICE in Maine was not intended target of warrant, lawmakers sayMaine Sen. Angus King said he told Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that he wanted a transparent investigation into the shooting in Biddeford.

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was a husband, father, and longtime Houston community member. Trump’s ICE shot him on his way to work. His family deserves a full and independent investigation and accountability.

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com

Ronaldo Salgado relayed his panicked search for his father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, as he joined local legislators and activists in calling for a full and transparent investigation into the killing on Tuesday in Houston. https://wapo.st/4vUxMt9

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth of July! As we celebrate our nation's independence and the shared values that bring us together, we also reaffirm our commitment to fighting for a more perfect union. 🎆

Congressman Juan Vargas reposted

🚨 The Supreme Court just rejected Trump's attempt to limit birthright citizenship! Birthright citizenship is a constitutional right. End of story. If you're born on U.S. soil, you're a U.S. citizen. That's something no President can take away.

apnews.comLive updates: Supreme Court upholds broad conception of birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump’s restrictionsThe Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship as is, rejecting President Donald Trump’s order that children born to parents who are in the U.S. illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.