Issue Position: Immigration

Issue Position

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives shamelessly passed a bill praising Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This is the very same federal agency that has been setting-up sting operations to capture, separate and deport non-violent immigrants across the country. ICE is the tip of the spear for the Trump administration's efforts to use terror to intimidate immigrants into leaving the U.S and punish immigrants who are legal residents. The agency was originally created to seek out and deport immigrants with criminal records and those that may cause harm to the U.S., but has now perverted their mission into one that targets hard-working, non-violent families. Instead of a "pat on the back", ICE needs to be totally overhauled and given a new set of priorities.

In many U.S. communities of color, ICE actions have served to intimidate Latinos with a legitimate right to federal assistance and have resulted in a 22% REDUCTION in ACA signups among legal, eligible Latinos and reduced access to food stamps by 10%. This creates unnecessary pain and suffering for children. The Trump administration, with the support and encouragement of House Republicans, fully backs a policy of sowing fear and turning citizens and residents in low-income and immigrant communities into second-class people. That should be unacceptable anywhere, but especially in the wealthiest country on the planet.

There are better ways to manage our borders. We want freer movement of people, goods, and ideas which is essential to growing this country. Instead of congratulating ICE, Congress should be reigning them in and strictly defining their role as an agency that prioritizes enforcement against violent and felonious criminals and not tearing families apart. We have to create a better system that respects our communities, effectively deals with customs issues and humanely promotes immigration in line with our history and values. When I am in Congress, I will press the ICE issue so that ICE will either be a constructive part of humane immigration mission or we will move on from ICE.

It is also a priority, as part of any proposal, that we must address DACA and the plight of DACA families, as well as the larger issue of providing a path to citizenship for the 10 million-plus undocumented people in this Country.

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