Julián Castro is indeed the 2020 Presidential Democratic candidate hiding in plain sight. Despite the fact that he has unveiled a comprehensive plan on immigration, a plan for gun control, 'Disarming Hate,' that tackles domestic terrorism and prior to the Town Hall meetings on climate control released his 'People and Planet First' plan*, he has received little attention here on Daily Kos.
* And this was after (and addition to) his earlier PAW plan, which tied in protecting domestic animals, wildlife and the planet.
IMMIGRATION
His 'People First Immigration Policy,' one that Frank Sharry, director of the liberal immigration group America's Voice, said "is the first serious, thoughtful and thorough proposal," includes ideas that voters will find in place among immigration policies of the other candidates—such as reversing Trump's travel plan and providing a pathway to citizenship for illegals. However, going further, Castro has the provision we've all heard about him talk about—Section 1325—making it a civil, rather than criminal act to cross the border. But wait, there’s more...
In addition to making illegal border crossings a civil offense, Castro's plan lays out a number of ideas that have not yet entered the 2020 primary mainstream. He wants to end so-called "287(g)" agreements that allow local law enforcement to perform immigration duties after undergoing training. He also wants to eliminate three- and 10-year bans, which prohibit undocumented immigrants from re-entering the United States for certain periods of time after they are deported. — Source-Texas Tribune
His plan also includes, not abolishing ICE, but rather—smartly, in my opinion—overhauling the agency. Furthermore, it EXPLAINS HOW this would be done, half-ing the agency and moving responsibilities (such as deportations) to other agencies. Presumably ones that actually know what they're doing like the Justice department.
To be sure, the plan features some ideas that Castro has already been trumpeting on the campaign trail, such as creating a "Marshall Plan" to address root causes of migration from Central American counties. His new policy calls for greater diplomacy with the region and economic development that enables people in those countries to "build a life in their communities rather than make a dangerous journey leaving their homes." Source-Texas Tribune
GUN CONTROL
As for 'Disarming Hate,' instead of just making his plan for gun control about, well, gun control, he's taken a look at the depth and breadth of the entire issue at hand.
His plan lists three steps in combating domestic terrorism: ensure that domestic terrorism investigations are focused on urgent threats and that authorities can recognize signs of extremism, invest in programs to combat hate and terrorism, and form international partners in addressing extremist content on the internet. Source-Daily Iowan
In addition, Castro says he would take executive action on day one as president, implement universal background checks and close NRA loopholes. He also said he would impose a seven-day waiting period.
"If the choice is between something like common-sense gun safety legislation or adhering to a 60 vote filibuster rule that both parties have basically broken when it's supported their political views, I will choose making our families safer by pushing forward on the common-sense gun safety legislation," Castro said.
Per his website:
“What we lack is the political courage to act, and Mitch McConnell, the NRA, and the filibuster will not stand in our way.
Common sense gun safety laws save lives. We need universal background checks without NRA loopholes to keep guns out of the wrong hands. We need a renewed assault weapons ban and strict limits on high-capacity magazines to reduce gun fatalities. We should invest in a gun buyback program to decrease the number of guns on the streets. We need to institute Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws and invest in community-driven violence prevention programs. And yes, we need a federal licensing program to buy and own a gun that includes fingerprints, a law enforcement interview, and a gun safety course.”
CLIMATE CRISIS
Castro's policy proposal was created with input from the team of former Presidential candidate and Climate Change King himself, Jay Inslee, itself.
[He] plans to ultimately put out a five-part plan, with today’s release covering the first two components focused on “environmental justice and resiliency.” Castro references his experience as HUD secretary, where he saw two-thirds of the United States suffer a climate-sparked disaster, to point out the loss of jobs, damages to physical and social infrastructure, school closures, financial instability and risks to the elderly during these disasters. [...] Castro committed that, if elected… Source-nbcnews.com
- Rejoining the Paris Climate Accords
- Pushing the international community to work toward worldwide net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
- Significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Replace coal-generated electricity with zero-emission sources
- All vehicles to be zero-emission by 2030
In addition, Castro believes that his 'People and Planet First' plan would put the United States on a timeline of clean, renewable electricity by 2035 and have the country reach net-zero emissions by 2045 "at the latest." He also has plans to create an "Economic Guarantee for Fossil Fuel Workers" in order to support workers in the oil, gas, and fossil fuel industry who would be affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. And because, as a person of color, he's aware that they have been disproportionately targeted and affected, Castro proposes new civil rights legislation to address the "disparate impact of environmental discrimination and dismantle structures of environmental racism."
ANIMAL WELFARE
Finally, you can read all about the PAW Plan in my diary here in which Castro seeks to showcase how animals, climate change and extinction itself is actually connected and how we need to do something about it NOW.
In every single one of Julián Castro's plan he doesn't just look at a single issue, he sees how income, race and environment impacts and interacts with one another and how working together that *single* issue can come closer to being resolved.
He has vision, insight and a plan (many, many plans) on how to move our country forward. Julián Castro is not hiding; he’s just waiting for people to take a good look at him.
He’s betting—and so am I—that when they do they will very much like what they see.
ETA: Changed the title because I loved what Castro said in his Town Hall section about connecting the dots which was a distilled version of what I wrote above about how he doesn’t just look at a single issue but marries so many together to come up with a solution.