Introduction

There are more than 250,000 foreign-born residents living in the 7th Congressional district today. Immigrants make immense contributions to the economic, social, and cultural vibrancy of our communities. However, the cruel, inhumane policies being implemented at the federal level mean that our immigrant brothers and sisters continue to live in fear of profiling, deportation, and separation from family and loved ones. Whether they are indigenous, Afro-Latino, African, Southeast Asian, or Muslim, we must stop the criminalization of these communities and lead from a place of compassion and dignity.

During the nine years I have served on the Boston City Council, I have fought shoulder-to-shoulder with our diverse immigrant communities - not just as an ally, but as an advocate. I have worked to ensure that police focus on protecting immigrant communities, not deporting them; I have helped expand English language learner (ELL) resources for students; and I’ve worked to prevent diverse residents from being displaced from ethnic neighborhoods like Chinatown.

But now, what progress we have made is under siege. Ever since Donald Trump declared his candidacy for President with a racist rant directed at Mexican migrants, he and his Administration have, in large part, been defined by their intolerance and discrimination against immigrants. From the “Muslim ban” to the decision to end DACA protections and, now, the devastating policy that has led thousands of immigrant children to be separated from their parents - the Administration in Washington has worked, without pretense, to make our country a more hostile place for immigrants.

The actions of Donald Trump and his administration have sparked a profound sense of fear and mistrust in our communities - feelings I experience on a visceral level when talking with immigrants and advocates. It is incumbent upon our elected representatives to create a united, unbending bulwark in defense of our communities; to fight the Trump Administration’s horrific policies by every means possible. At the same time, we must acknowledge the foreign policy decisions that fuel the emigration of so many diverse communities, and work side-by-side with immigrants, advocates, and other stakeholders to lift up our communities - to make our public education system more inclusive, create greater economic opportunities for immigrants for whom English isn’t a first language, and address issues of sexual and domestic violence in immigrant communities. We must ensure that our efforts are inclusive, intersectional, and respect the many different ethnic identities that make up our vibrant immigrant communities. To prioritize defending immigrant communities or working for their advancement is a false choice - we must do both.

In Congress, I will be a fierce advocate for the rights of immigrants - both documented and undocumented - and will not treat the future of young immigrants or their parents, as a political bargaining chip. We need activist leadership that will help us both resist Donald Trump and make real progress for immigrant communities. Over the long term, we must develop a more humane immigration system, in partnership with the native countries of our nation’s diverse immigrant communities. As Vanessa Calderón Rosado wrote in a recent WBUR op-ed, “Having people in our highest offices that have actually experienced trauma and inequality, would bring greater empathy, understanding and urgency for change.” In Congress, I will elevate immigrant voices from all corners - immigrants from Central and South America, from Asia, from Africa, members of the Afro-Latino immigrant community, migrants from European countries, and others - to advance policies that will meaningfully support our communities and create greater opportunity for all.