Our immigrant neighbors deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and our laws should reflect that. During my time in the Army, I served with people of all backgrounds, political persuasions, and nationalities. I served with immigrants whose commitment to our country was never questioned. All that mattered was that we had each other’s backs. The 6th District is home to over 100,000 immigrants who help make our community such a special place to live. 

I believe we should provide the Dreamers with a path towards citizenship and reform the immigration system to bring the millions of other undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and provide certainty to them and their families. I will always support immigrants brought to America as children. Family unity is a core value of our society and many immigrants also have family members who are American citizens. Our immigration and visa policies must reflect that. Keeping families together has been part of our visa system for decades, and for good reason. We must insure that family-based immigration stands on equal footing with business- and skills-based immigration. 

Making sure we have secure borders that prevent the illegal flow of weapons and drugs into America is a priority for every member of Congress. But we need to be smarter about the border and not waste billions of dollars on an ineffective wall. American businesses need workers in virtually all sectors of the economy and a comprehensive approach to immigration reform and visa processing is necessary. 

We should support the policy that has been in place for generations allowing an expedited path to citizenship for people who serve in the military. For those who want to strengthen our nation and to provide for their families, we should find a way to welcome them.