There is honor in immigration. Both sides of my family immigrated to the US a few generations ago. Undocumented individuals fill many of the jobs that keep this country running. It is past time to make undocumented individuals full members of the country they call their home and abolish ICE.

I oppose the Republican narrative of vilifying immigrants and the ongoing mass deportations. I oppose the removal of student visas when students exercise their right to free speech. I oppose the removal of anyone from America, especially to a Salvadorian torture prison, without receiving the right to due process.

The IRS estimates that undocumented people pay over $9 billion in withheld payroll taxes annually. Undocumented people continue to work and support this country, and they also suffer from the same economic insecurities as many U.S. citizens today. I support an immediate pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and other undocumented immigrants while also making legal immigration more accessible and convenient.

Most people coming to the United States are refugees fleeing poverty, persecution, and political turmoil in their home countries. Rather than spending money to persecute refugees and vilify them, I will introduce legislation to build a sustainable development program that provides refugees with the best opportunities to integrate and succeed in our society.

Our nation must recognize our history: immigrants, enslaved peoples, and refugees built this country, but they are treated dishonorably. We all do better when we create a just society that embraces our most vulnerable populations and paves a path to prosperity for all.