Fullerton, Calif. – Gil Cisneros, Fmr. Lieutenant Commander who is running for Congress in California’s 39th Congressional District, visited Crittenton Services Center, a child advocacy and mental health organization within the 39th District that currently houses children who were separated from their families at the border. While he was unable to meet with the separated children, Cisneros visited the facility to ensure the children are receiving the best treatment and counseling possible and to reaffirm his commitment to reuniting them with their families.
“It was important for me to meet with Crittenton’s staff and confirm that these children are given the best care and attention while in this troubling situation,” said Cisneros. “While I’ve received assurances they are being given the utmost care and counseling in accordance with California laws, I pledge to continue to monitor this situation. I can’t begin to imagine the pain if my two young boys were ripped away from me, and no parent or child should ever experience that suffering and uncertainty. Despite the President’s executive order there is still no plan or process to begin to reunite children and families. Our government must immediately begin family reunification efforts in earnest. Anything less is unacceptable.”
Crittenton Services for Children and Families is a child advocacy and mental health organization headquartered in Fullerton, California. Crittenton currently houses 16 children who were separated from their families at the border, in addition to unaccompanied minors and foster youth.
Cisneros has been outspoken in his opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies separating children from their families at the border. He previously denounced the “zero-tolerance policy” when it was put in place. Cisneros visited the border in Tornillo, Texas to further protest the immigration policies of the current administration. Cisneros also criticized the proposed plan to create tent cities at U.S. military bases to house immigrant families.
Cisneros continued, “For the sake of these children, their parents, and our entire immigrant community, we need comprehensive immigration reform. In Congress, I’ll fight to ensure we end the detention and separation of families, we keep our promise to DACA recipients, and refuse to fund the administration’s senseless border wall.”
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Gil Cisneros is a former U.S. Naval Officer and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2), the National Defense Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his exemplary service to his country. Gil is Advocate and co-founder of The Gilbert & Jacki Cisneros Foundation, an organization committed to improving the level of Hispanic education in the country. Gilbert’s dedication toward philanthropy began when he purchased a winning California Mega Millions lottery ticket in 2010. Gil and Jacki partnered with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the city of Pico Rivera, California to create Generation First Degree Pico Rivera, with the goal of putting a college degree in every Hispanic household in the city. Gil’s commitment to education, led him to be appointed to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative’s advisory board, on which he still serves, and President Obama’s Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
California’s 39th Congressional District, split between Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties, will be one of the most competitive districts in California. Hillary Clinton won the district by a whopping nine points, the DCCC labeled it a first-round target on its battlefield map and recently, the Cook Political Report changed the district’s status from Lean R to Toss Up.
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Cisneros for Congress
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Placentia, CA 92871
United States