Photo Courtesy of Rep. Meng’s Office
Pelois lauded Meng “and her persistent dedication to honoring our nation’s proud immigrant heritage and fighting back against the administration’s discriminatory policies and callous attacks.”
By Forum Staff
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Elmhurst on Monday for a conversation on immigration hosted by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing).
Monday’s event was part of Pelosi’s “Speaker in the House” series. Pelosi and Meng were joined at Elmhurst Hospital Center auditorium by immigration activists, immigration advocacy organizations and other stakeholders from across Queens and New York City to discuss policies and legislation aimed at improving the U.S. immigration system. The program featured a discussion with audience members followed by a question and answer session. The panel featured three immigration rights leaders: Steve Choi, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition; Pabitra Khati Benjamin, executive director of Adhikaar; and Natalia Aristizabal, co-director of Organizing at Make the Road New York.
Monday’s event coincided with the recent passing of the American Dream and Promise Act, which according to Meng, an original cosponsor of the measure, seeks to establish permanent residency and a pathway to citizenship for millions of Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status recipients, and individuals covered by Deferred Enforced Departure. The bill passed the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives on June 4 by a vote of 237 to 187.
“Our Democratic House is blessed by the outstanding leadership of Congresswoman Meng, and her persistent dedication to honoring our nation’s proud immigrant heritage and fighting back against the administration’s discriminatory policies and callous attacks,” Pelosi said. “House Democrats are proud to have passed H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act, to protect Dreamers and TPS and DED recipients, and are working relentlessly to build on that progress: calling on Sen. [Mitch] McConnell to pass H.R. 6, fighting the administration’s discriminatory and undemocratic attacks on the Census and continuing to fight for a comprehensive fix for our broken immigration system.”
Meng noted that “Queens is the most diverse place in the nation,” with immigrants from across the globe calling The World’s Borough home.
“Fixing our broken immigration system is vital to improving the lives and aspirations of the large immigrant population that resides here, and I cannot be more proud to welcome Speaker Pelosi to my district for a wide-ranging discussion on this critical subject, particularly as we hail this month’s passage of the American Dream and Promise Act,” Meng added. “I am also extremely pleased to be joined by the tireless and dedicated immigration advocates from our area who are on the front lines of this issue each and every day, and I thank them all for accepting my invitation to be part of this event. In addition to highlighting the importance of overhauling our nation’s immigration laws, and permitting Dreamers and TPS and DED holders to remain in the country, we must continue to fight back against the cruel policies and vicious rhetoric that President Trump has unjustly unleashed toward immigrant communities. Immigrants enrich our neighborhoods, contribute to our economy and make enormous and outstanding contributions to America. We cannot allow them to be kicked to the curb and forced into the shadows. The U.S. has always been a nation of immigrants, and no place illustrates that more than Queens and the rest of New York City.”
