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As everyone surely knows, America is a
nation of immigrants. Our district, and the nation as a whole, would
lose its luster if it weren’t for our exciting mix of cultures and
communities. My goal is to ensure that Massachusetts retains the
spirit upon which America was founded by remaining an open and
inviting place for people of all cultures.
As a human rights attorney, I have worked
hard toward that goal by confronting the unlawful policies and
practices of the Commonwealth’s previous administration and its agents
directed toward the state’s immigrant population. Thus, I was
instrumental in suing the Registry of Motor Vehicles when the Romney
Administration rewrote the RMV regulations in violation of the
Administrative Procedures Act and tried to force right wing
unconstitutional Real ID policy on the Commonwealth. I have also been
a strong and influential advocate in support of Senator Susan Tucker’s
legislation which would enact criminal penalties for those who use the
state office of “public notary” to commit fraud on immigrants.
As your Senator, I will work hard to
uphold the laws of this nation and the Commonwealth. I will not be
deciding who stays and who goes, just as I believe it is not the job
of any state or local official to determine immigration status. Only
judges, educated in our nation’s complex immigration laws, can make
these decision. As a human rights attorney, I have first-hand
experience with our judicial system, and I have faith in this system
to make these determinations free of prejudices and political
pressures.
My job is to listen to you, my
constituents and friends, and do my best to represent all of the
communities’ interests in the State Senate. Given the reality of
undocumented immigration, state and local efforts are best focused on
ensuring that all residents enjoy an exceptional quality of life and
that state and local budgets remain strong. The economic impact of
undocumented workers on state and local economies is a matter open to
honest debate, with some compelling evidence presented by both sides.
I strongly believe that we can retain our open and inviting attitude
without allowing state and local services to suffer.
Regardless of your personal feelings about
undocumented immigrants, one thing we can surely all agree on is that
we cannot in good conscience deprive their children – who had no say
their parents’ decision to come to the United States – of an education
simply based on the parents’ decisions. To deprive a blameless
person of something as crucial as an education would constitute an
outright abandonment of our deepest values.
Public education is
essential to forming a more inclusive society.
That is why I support offering all
Massachusetts 8th graders who choose to attend public universities
equal tuition rates. In order to address recent concerns and
build consensus, I would propose that students undergo an English
equivalency test and a criminal background check (which is already
required for all immigrants seeking legalization) in order to qualify
for equal tuition rates in Massachusetts' public colleges and
universities, but I would not compromise on the fundamental principle
that children of undocumented immigrants deserve equal access to
public education. |
