Mike Quigley has proudly represented Illinois 5th District for more than 13 years. Since being elected to Congress, Mike has been devoted to fighting for our environment, small businesses, the LGBTQ community, healthcare access, and ending gun violence.
His passion for public service can be traced back more than four decades. From 1998 to 2009, he served as a Cook County Commissioner where he worked to increase transparency within the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
He currently serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on the House Committee on Appropriations. Mike has utilized his position on the Committee to bring investment back to his district. Most recently, he secured over $10 million for projects within the community that will do everything from enhancing public health opportunities, to improving our city’s infrastructure.
The United States has always been a nation of immigrants. It’s essential that our immigration policies reflect this country’s rich history of diversity and the countless contributions that immigrants have and continue to make. History tells us that comprehensive immigration reform raises wages, creates jobs, and generates additional tax revenue. That’s why I will continue to work towards pragmatic solutions that reform our broken immigration system, keep our borders secure, and provide a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants currently living in the shadows.
I believe we can and should create a twenty-first century immigration system that will stimulate jobs, enhance global competitiveness, and help to grow a highly skilled U.S. workforce. I have strongly spoken out against President Trump’s executive orders on immigration, which only further separates families and continues unnecessary deportation of millions of members of our community. I proudly introduced the Safeguarding Sanctuary Cities Act to stand in solidarity with any immigrant seeking security and safety within our cities. I also continue to fight tirelessly to enact more humane deportation and detention policies, to improve standards and conditions at immigration detention centers, and to protect the legal rights of undocumented immigrants. I also support refugee resettlement, policies and efforts to end the costly and arbitrary immigration detention bed quotas and the unnecessary detention of children and families. I have introduced legislation that will increase high skilled visas so that America can continue to attract the world’s best and brightest. And I continue to push for an expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) through the JOLT Act, which will increase tourism and bolster our economy by allowing citizens of selected countries, including Poland, that meet strict U.S. security standards to travel to the U.S. for 90 days without a U.S. visa.
America’s strength as a nation is being jeopardized by a broken immigration system that is tearing families apart, disrupting our workforce and draining our resources. Our nation was built by immigrants, and that proud tradition is more important now than ever before. I’ve met with Chicagoland DREAMers who would face deportation if Congress fails to protect DACA recipients. Our actions must reflect our values and our history, and I believe that embracing those who come to America seeking a better life for themselves and their family make us a stronger and better nation.