Issue Position: Immigration

Issue Position

In Virginia's 8th congressional district, we thrive on diversity. A full 38 percent of households in the 8th speak a language other than English at home. President Trump's nativist insistence that we must slam the doors shut to the United States -- especially to anyone who comes from a nation of poverty or desperation -- is a shameful embarrassment to our nation and to our ancestors. The treatment of immigrants, and especially the treatment of migrants and their children at the southern border, makes me shudder.

Just a few years ago, the country was on the verge of comprehensive immigration reform -- reform that would have fixed our immigration system and given a path to citizenship to immigrants who are part of our neighborhood and our economy. At the first signs of difficulty from Trump's advisor Stephen Miller, Republicans aborted any effort at solving one of our nation's most vexing issues. Then, too many got in line behind their president when he preached xenophobia.

With our new Democratic majority in the House, we wasted no time in offering solutions. We passed H.R. 6, an immigration bill that would enable many Dreamers to get lawful permanent resident status for 10 years, and that would also protect those who have Temporary Protective Status, which includes many Northern Virginians. We also passed H.R.1044, which would remove per-country caps for employment-based visas, and instead issue them on a first-come, first-serve basis. And we passed H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act, which ensures appropriate medical and health standards for individuals in CBP care.

In addition, I am behind bills that would reunite families separated at the border, put cameras on ICE officers, and protect the once-respected "sensitive locations," such as hospitals and places of worship, where immigration officers would not engage in enforcement activities. I have also engaged in my own oversight with the Administration over their horrific treatment and gross negligence of individuals in their care.

While the Trump administration continues to engage in ways that are fiscally irresponsible,
incompetent, and intentionally cruel as well as fail to solve the problems in our immigration system, but rather make them worse, I will continue to work toward solutions that are reasonable and compassionate.

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