From my work in the construction industry, I have witnessed first-hand how the immigrants I worked with made invaluable contributions to our workforce, economy, and society. Today, Congress should be more concerned about comprehensive immigration reform instead of shutting down the border. Undocumented immigrants work here, pay taxes, and contribute to our robust economy – sharing all the responsibilities of an American citizen without receiving the privilege to be one.

To address the inefficiencies and problems in our immigration system, I support 5 main steps to streamline the process for citizenship while maintaining national security and border control: 

Clear Path to Citizenship

• Forge a clear path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have worked in America and contributed to our economy by reducing application backlogs. Increasing the attorneys and judges involved in this process is just one way this path to citizenship can be streamlined. 

Support for DACA Recipients

• DACA has provided relief to hundreds of thousands of immigrants, allowing them to work, pursue higher education, and give back to American communities. Dreamers play a vital role in America and I will be the vote to grant these members of our society the citizenship they deserve.

Protecting Children and Families

• Border practices of family separation are inhumane, cruel, and unnecessary. I will prioritize efforts to prevent unnecessary separations at the border, and ensure that children brought to this country, not by their own doing, are granted citizenship. Innocent children should not be punished for circumstances out of their control. 

Expanding Asylum Protections

• The United States has long been a beacon of hope for freedom, democracy, and hope for those fleeing injustice. To uphold this, we must increase the annual visa cap for victims of trafficking and violence, expanding our asylum system to ensure fair and accessible practices for those seeking refuge.

Border Control

• I wholeheartedly support immigration and the work of immigrants. While opening our doors to immigrants, we must also protect our national interests and Security. With border crossings at record levels, I propose temporarily shutting down the border if crossings exceed 2,500 people per day.  In December of 2023, we saw more than 200,000 immigrants encountered at the border showcasing the need for reform. This measure is not to exclude immigrants but to control the flow and ensure that all parties involved are protected.

Many of the aforementioned actions were outlined in the bipartisan senate border bill. However, due to the inaction of our Republican representatives in the US House and their refusal to put it to a vote, it never saw the light of day. Leadership matters. It’s time to make a vote for progress.