Today Harlem Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement celebrating May Day, Immigrant Rights Day:
“America has witnessed a dramatic shift on many fronts since the start of this year. It should not come as a surprise to anyone, that the Trump administration is filling the swamp with the same hate induced agenda that we witnessed during the presidential election. As a result, we are now witnessing firsthand aggressive shifts in policies that impact America’s standing abroad with our allies and here at home – policies that are unacceptable and unaligned with the values and we hold dear as a nation.
“Having come to this country as an immigrant myself, I take these anti-immigrant policies very personally. When my constituents tell me they are afraid to go out at night – that’s personal. And when Trump is dedicating resources to opening an office whose sole purpose is to demonize immigrants – that’s personal. When families are torn apart and when students are uprooted from the only place they have ever called home – that’s personal, too.
“This is a critical time for the soul of our country, and we owe it to the American people to celebrate May Day, Immigrant Rights Day as a day we stand united to protect the liberties of freedom and opportunity that we hold dear as a country and renew our fight against attacks on immigrant families in communities around the nation.”
