Immigration Plan

Nearly one in four New Jersey residents is an immigrant, and one in six New Jersey residents has at least one parent who is an immigrant. Hudson County, Essex County, and Union County are the first, fourth, and fifth counties with the highest immigrant populations, respectively, and these numbers are only growing larger.

Our immigrant communities make our district rich with culture. But we can do so much better when it comes to serving our immigrant neighbors, family, and friends.

Currently, three counties in our district host ICE facilities — one owned and operated by a private entity. This is a disgrace. Our fellow residents should not have to live in constant fear of deportation or having their families separated.

When I worked as the Legislative Director for New Jersey Working Families, I stood by immigrant communities during their fight for Driver’s Licenses for All and Fair Work Week schedule. And I won’t stop there. As your Congresswoman, I will:

  • Support DACA and allow those who came to this country as minors a permanent shield from deportation.
  • Create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented minors who have been in the U.S. for at least five years.
  • Expand qualifications for DACA recipients to include those employed at least part-time regardless of their educational status.
  • Ensure that undocumented students can receive federal financial student aid for any public college or HBCU in the United States.
  • Abolish ICE and place a ban on all for-profit detention facilities. They do not keep our communities safe, and they often have grossly inhumane conditions.
  • Support the Schedules that Work Act to better protect workers —particularly immigrant workers — from unpredictable work schedules, unlivable paychecks, unhealthy schedules, and lack of flexibility in scheduling.
  • Commit to fully funding and supporting the Task Force to Reunite Families and programs geared towards assisting refugees and asylum seekers in the United States.