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Prominent centrist Rep. Stephanie Murphy will not be running for re-election later this year and is not shying away from speaking her mind as she leaves Congress,blasting her fellow Democrats for taking actions detrimental to our ability to lead.

My first term [2017-2019] there was a lot more tolerance for, Do what you need to do to hold your seat, and come back because were trying to build towards [a] majority, Murphy (D-Fla.) told Politico.

With us being in the majority [from 2019 on], that tolerance eroded a bit, she went on. Its unfortunate, because I think in order for us as Democrats to hold the majority, you have to be able to win in seats like mine and in redder seats. That means you have to cut your members a little bit of leeway to vote their district. This march towards party unity is going to be detrimental to our ability to lead.

Murphy recalled being accused of holding anti-immigrant views for supporting the GOP-pushed Kates Law, which would have increased penalties for people who sneak back into the US after being deported.

I believe in immigration and comprehensive immigration reform and the ability for people to immigrate to the United States in a legal way, Murphy told the outlet. But I also believe in law and order, and ensuring that we hold people who commit crimes accountable.

When it came to President Bidens multitrillion-dollar Build Back Better agenda, Murphy alleged leadership had opted to beat moderates into submission to get them behind the spending plan.

I cant tell you the number of times I said, You cant keep promising rainbows and unicorns when your political reality is such narrow margins in the House and a dead-even Senate, Murphy told Politico. They took the difference between rainbows and unicorns and political reality which is anger and disappointment and turned that anger and disappointment against their own members.

The centrist even accused House Democratic leadership of pushing outside groups to place pressure on members of the party who didnt toe the line.

Instead of purely focusing on their issue area, they bleed into just advocating for whatever Democratic leadership wants, Murphy said.

I told those groups, For every dollar that you spend against me, its going to take 10 to repair that. Why, as Democrats, we would take money that we need to reserve for the on-year to help win and grow the majority why we would spend that money against our own members is really baffling, she continued.

Murphy, who announced in December she would not seek a fourth House term, also accused her fellow Democrats of ingratitude, saying she and some of her colleagues had gone from being celebrated for having flipped a seat [to] then excoriated for taking votes that help you keep that seat.

Im not talking about myself. I think about people like Abby Spanberger (D-Va.), like some of these other members where in 18, they were celebrities for helping us win the majority, she told Politico. And as soon as they went about taking the votes that would help them keep and represent the seat that they had won, they drew the ire of the Democrats.

The lawmaker also demanded reform of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, saying it should not be run by a sitting member of Congress.Currently, the DCCC is headed by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York.

I believe that the DCCC exists for one reason and one reason alone, and that is incumbent protection and expanding the majority, Murphy said. I dont believe that the person who runs the DCCC should be a member whos elected, because inevitably that member has further aspirations in the Democratic leadership.

And in order to ascend in Democratic leadership, you have to secure the progressive vote. And securing the progressive vote makes it difficult for you to also then protect moderates and create space for them to do what they need to do to win and hold seats. I think thats just a structure that is misaligned to what should be the sole purpose of the DCCC, incumbent retention and expanding the majority.

Murphy, the first Vietnamese American woman to be elected to Congress, made national headlines with her 2016 defeat of longtime GOP Rep. John Mica, and became one of the most vocal moderates in the House Democratic conference.

Currently, she serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the House Armed Services Committee and the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Democrats face a steep climb later this year to keep the majority in both chambers of Congress. So far, 31 Democrats and 16 Republicans have decided not to run for re-election.

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Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy slams her own party for hurting their ability to lead - New York Post

PTI

Washington, March 17

An Indian-American documented dreamer has told lawmakers that she would be forced to leave the US, where she has spent her entire life since the age of four, in eight months in the absence of any meaningful legislative reforms in immigration system that addressed the major issue of aged-out kids.

Dreamers are basically undocumented immigrants who enter the US as children with parents. There are nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants, including over five lakh from India, according to a policy document issued by the Biden campaign in November 2020.

Without a change in eight months, I will be forced to leave, not only my home of 20 years but also my mom who is my only family left, Athulya Rajakumar, a 23-year-old recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin from the Moody College of Communication, told members of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety on Tuesday.

Testifying before the subcommittee during a hearing on Removing Barriers to Legal Migration, the Indian-American told the Senators that over 5,000 documented dreamers face this every year.

Erin, a nursing graduate was forced to self-deport last summer in the midst of a pandemic...a data analyst student was forced to self-deport two months ago, Summer will be forced to self-deport in four months, even though her family has legally resided here since she was a baby, she said.

An aspiring journalist, Rajakumar, from Washington State, shared the story of her family's struggle through years of immigration limbo, which contributed to her brother's tragic death.

I'm outraged by this broken system that you, your brother, and thousands of documented dreamers have had to face. We organised this hearing today because we cannot allow the inaction of Congress to continue to cause this suffering, Senator Alex Padilla said in his remarks.

Padilla is chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety. Barriers to legal migration routinely separate families across international borders for years, he said.

Visa caps that keep employers from expanding their businesses and hold back the US economy, an arbitrary cut-off for legal status that forced children, visa holders, to leave the only country they've ever known when they age out of their parents' visas. The gap between our country's needs and the realities of our broken immigration system should come as no surprise, Padilla said.

Employment-based visas allow participating immigrants to bring extraordinary skills to our workforce, start new businesses, create new jobs in rural areas, and to help address worker shortages in industries like healthcare, he said.

But only 1,40,000 of these individuals can obtain visas every year. Because the spouses and children who accompany them count against the total, far fewer than 70,000 visas actually go to eligible workers. Hundreds of thousands of others are left in limbo, restricted by a temporary visa, or turned away from their dreams and they're kept from realising their potential, he said.

Ranking Member Senator John Cornyn said the Congressional Research Service recently estimated that without significant changes, the employment-based green card backlog could exceed 2 million by 2030.

Indian nationals have been hit especially hard because our system's per-country caps do not allow them to receive more than seven per cent of the available employment-based visas in any given year, he said.

To make matters worse due to processing inefficiencies attributable in part to USCIS' paper-based system and to the closures of many of our consulates, we fail to issue as many as 92,000 employment-based visas in the height of the pandemic, he said.

Rajakumar told lawmakers that she got a full-time offer from a major news corporation in Houston, a top 10 market, but the same company who saw her potential withdrew their offer the second they heard about her visa status. But worst of all, being considered an alien, an outsider in the only place you know to call home is a different kind of pain, she said.

Dip Patel, president of Improve the Dream, in a statement, said that Rajakumar's moving testimony shows the urgent need to update the broken system, including the need to permanently end the problem of aging for children who are raised and educated in the United States.

For thousands of young people growing up with uncertainty, there is constant anxiety regarding one's future in what we consider our homeWe urge Congress to consider this and act fast to pass common-sense immigration reform, he said.

During the hearing, Padilla questioned Rajakumar about her experience as a documented dreamer and how a pathway to citizenship and the enactment of America's Children Act would impact her life.

Rajakumar pointed to the fact that it would mean that she wouldn't have to be separated from her family and the country she's called her home for the last twenty years.

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Indian-American documented dreamer tells lawmakers she'd be forced to leave US without change in immigration system - The Tribune India

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Tucker Carlson pointed out Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Fla.'s potential double standard on countries' borders Wednesday on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," referencing both the U.S. southern border and the Ukrainian border.

The Florida congresswoman's immigration reform law would allow tens of millions of illegal immigrants to stay in the United States, Carlson said.

REP. MARIA SALAZAR SAYS DEMOCRATS FAILED THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY: 'WE ARE AMERICANS, WE'RE NOT SOCIALISTS'

He noted the contrast between her "desire to send MiGs to Ukraine to preserve its borders, but not here."

"Should we send the U.S. military to the Mexican border? Since you have admitted, that tens of millions of people have come here illegally; that our borders are porous, they're not defended, they're open. Should we send the U.S. military to the Mexican border?"

"All of us are appalled by the violation of Ukraine's borders," he added. "You don't seem as appalled by the violation of our borders by tens of millions of people."

As for Ukraine, Salazar argued that the U.S. should not rule out a no-fly zone over the war-torn country. In the meantime, it should supply Ukraine with MiGs and S-300 missile systems, she said.

Carlson said Russia could view that action as an "act of war."

"And if that happens, then what next? And to not think about that seems negligent," he continued.

"The question is, are we [confronting Russia] with all available risks known to the population in whose name we're doing it?"

When asked about the "likelihood of a retaliatory nuclear strike from Vladimir Putin," Salazar said she believes Putin will not go that far if President Biden's administration "will send the message that we are in charge, that NATO is ready to confront him, and so are we."

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Carlson later asked Salazar if she has realized that "many lives might be saved" if the U.S. encouraged the proposed resolution of granting neutral status to Ukraine.

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Tucker Carlson clashes with Rep. Maria Salazar over views on Ukraine, US southern border - Fox News

One of Oregon's two federal legislators in the U.S. Senate, Wyden touched on a number of subjects during the session held for Malheur County residents last week.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden addressed Malheur County in a vvirtual town hall on Friday, March 11. (The Enterprise/FILE)

VALE - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, touched on subjects from funding public health to immigration reform during a digital town hall meeting last week.

Wyden announced early in the meeting hed now held more than 1,000 town halls since becoming senator.

Wydens overall theme during the session was what he called the Oregon way, a cooperative, bipartisan method to overcoming challenges.

The Oregon way isnt about Democrats or Republicans. Its about creating opportunities for people, he said.

Wyden recognized Sarah Poe, Malheur County Health Department director, for her work during the pandemic.

When her community needed her, she didnt run and hide, said Wyden.

Poe thanked Wyden for the accolades and reminded the senator that more money is needed for public health in Oregon.

Oregon is way below average, said Poe.

Wyden agreed and referred to a $1.5 trillion fiscal omnibus bill, now under debate in Congress, where money is set aside for Covid relief.

I and others have pressed hard to get the rural share up, because, look, we all know you cant really predict another variant, said Wyden.

Wyden said he has worked to make the case to the leadership of both political parties, you got to get a more fair shake to rural communities.

Wyden also addressed the future of the Owyhee Canyonlands.

Two years ago, Wyden spearheaded a effort on an agreement between ranchers, environmentalists and residents regarding the Canyonlands.

In November 2019, he announced the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act to safeguard the Canyonlands. The legislation was the result of months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between environmentalists, conservation groups, local ranchers, state universities and federal agencies.

Wyden said he is still engaged in the Owyhee legislation.

We will make sure we advance this bill and I wont give up until we get it on the presidents desk, said Wyden.

One question to the senator revolved around what is believed to be one of the largest lithium deposits in the U.S. along the Oregon-Idaho border in southern Malheur County.

Lithium is used to make batteries for cellphones, laptops and electric cars.

As chairman of the (Senate) Finance Committee I have been heavily involved in the effort to create the classic win-win situation, where we tap the opportunity for good paying jobs and protect our treasures, said Wyden.

Wyden also talked about the River Democracy Act, a piece of legislation he co-sponsored with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon.

Wyden and Merkley introduced legislation last year to protect nearly 4,700 miles of rivers and streams in Oregon as part of the national Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

The legislation is fair and will add needed protections to the landscape, Wyden said.

The legislation faced criticism last year and the Malheur County Court declared its opposition last August, citing, among a host of issues, that the bill is federal overreach.

The proposed legislation, said Wyden, will protect landowners and have no impact on grazing.

We make it clear private property is sacrosanct. I know there may be some people spreading rumors and the like that this bill will harm peoples private property or make it harder to fight fire but I will tell you the facts show otherwise, said Wyden.

Wyden also reiterated his support for community colleges.

Clint Shock, the former director of the Oregon State University Malheur County Experiment Station, asked Wyden if he would support more focused efforts to develop medicines especially for pain - from plant sources.

I very much share your view with respect to trying to look at plants in the agriculture sector for opportunities to relieve pain, said Wyden.

He also said more effort should go into providing broadband coverage for Oregonians.

We have 136,000 people who really dont have that kind of connectivity in eastern Oregon. We know we are going to have to do a better job, said Wyden.

The senator said immigration reform is stalled in Congress.

We also need to make sure we have got the workers, and farmers have the workforce they need. They need to have fair wages and working conditions. We need to get Democrats and Republicans behind immigration reform, said Wyden.

News tip? Contact reporter Pat Caldwell at [emailprotected]

Previous coverage:

Wyden says he will lead effort on new Owyhee initiative

Malheur County streams would get federal protection under Senate bill

Wyden's canyonlands negotiations moving forward

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Wyden touts the 'Oregon Way' during online town hall session - malheurenterprise.com

As he was getting ready to graduate from Cal State Long Beach in 2010, Julio Salgado came across a photo of his peers sitting on the floor of Sen. John McCains office in blue caps and gowns. They were calling for a path to citizenship for young undocumented people like himself and the implementation of the DREAM Act to grant residency and the right to work to individuals who migrated to the United States as minors.

He knew he had to get involved in the cause. He did it through art.

One of his earliest pieces titled, Undocumented, Unafraid and Unapologetic, depicts a girl in a green cap and gown with the word hope written along her tassel. The color green, Salgado says, represented hope for himself when there wasnt any.

Today, the same image has been reimagined for a statewide Undocumented Students Support E-Handbook that provides resources and support for students who are navigating being undocumented while pursuing higher education. The student in the art piece sports the same color green and is surrounded by the activists Salgado rallied with in 2010.

This high school student went through community college and eventually transferred, she got her masters degree and you see the community behind her, said Salgado.

Navigating his first days in the United States as a queer, undocumented 11-year-old, Salgado said the one thing that kept him going even when his future was uncertain was hope.

He was in the 10th grade when he realized the struggle he would face being undocumented in the U.S. When a teacher at Jordan High School in North Long Beach offered him a summer job teaching parents how to use a computer, he went home to ask his own parents for permission but was confused to learn he could not accept it because he did not have a Social Security number.

We dont have a social because we dont have papers, his father told him. You cant tell anyone that you dont have papers because you will get in trouble.

That is when the worry set in. Salgado began to wonder if he would go to college one day, where he would get a job and whether he would be deported for revealing his status at school, but his hope for the future never diminished. After all, his mothers name is Esperanza, which means hope in Spanish, so he felt like it was only fitting that he too would use it as something to shape his life.

In 1995, Salgado and his family took a trip to California from their home in Ensenada, Mexico, but stayed to seek treatment for his sister after she developed a life-threatening kidney infection. American doctors convinced his parents to continue seeking treatment in the U.S. even when they longed to stay in their home country. After landing in Los Angeles, they finally settled in North Long Beach in 1996.

As Salgado navigated through learning English for the first time and understanding the dynamics of an American middle school, he was often picked on for not speaking the language.

I came to the U.S., a place where I was invisible and when I was visible I was made fun of, he said.

Eventually he would turn to the one thing he did know like the back of his hand, his artwork, to connect with people and make new friends. His teachers introduced him to the work of famous artists like Frida Kahlo and Andy Warhol, whose use of color and storytelling is reflected in his artwork today. He took inspiration for his own style from American TV shows like The Simpsons and Daria.

My plan growing up was to move to New York and become the Mexican Andy Warhol, he said.

Now, Salgado uses his lived experiences to create, drawing a fine line between artwork and activism. He has documented the DREAM Act movement of the early 2010s and their fight for immigration reform, most notably in his series titled, I am undocuqueer. His art has captured the struggle of being queer, undocumented and Latino in the U.S while also being unapologetically himself. His artwork has taken him all across the country; he has been featured in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Oakland Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Recently, Salgado was commissioned to create the cover page for the e-handbook, a project in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellors Office and the Foundation for California Community Colleges that is aimed toward campus leaders and Dreamer Resource Liaisons in the 116 community colleges across the state, giving them necessary resources to best assist those in need.

This was a full circle moment for me, said Salgado, who graduated from high school in 2001 before attending Long Beach Community College and eventually transferring to Cal State Long Beach where he graduated in 2010. He credits his college journey to teachers and counselors who tried their best to help him and other undocumented students when the resources were limited.

At CSULB, Salgado was introduced to other undocumented students on campus who together formed a support group to share those limited resources with each other, including scholarships that didnt require a Social Security number.

It was very secretive the way we would meet up It was very scary to come out as undocumented when you know that there were people, you know, other students on campus who were very anti-immigrant.

They ended up calling themselves an AB540 support group, figuring that if students knew what it was, they were most likely undocumented too. Signed into law in late 2001, AB540 allowed undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at any public college or university across the state.

When it came to reimagining the piece for the handbook, Julio wanted to honor the community that made those hardships easier to bear. I think it was important to recognize the people that made it possible, he said.

Today, those are leaders like Marisela Hernandez, said Salgado, who commissioned him for the project and has been working on the handbook for over a year and a half with the help of over 30 educators across the state that are pushing for better resources for undocumented students and chose him for the cover art.

The handbook is meant to highlight that we have these people in our circle, we have undocumented doctors, lawyers, artists, community members, community organizers and teachers. Julio was someone who came from our community and that we could use as a role model, she said.

Hernandez works at the Foundation for California Community Colleges, where she supports the implementation of AB1645 across campuses, designating a Dreamer Resource Liaison to give undocumented students the resources they need to navigate through college successfully.

Similarly, Jose Gutierrez, DREAM services coordinator at LBCC, is one of the collaborators on the handbook who has been working with undocumented students at LBCC for over four years and has seen the effect that having a dedicated support center can have on students.

It is amazing to see the progress that community colleges have made throughout the years, and to be able to carve out specific spaces for students to come in to feel safe and to feel like somebody understands them. It is great to be able to walk onto campus and see that LBCC is a supportive space for undocumented students, said Gutierrez.

Salgado wants others to see themselves reflected in the work he creates, his use of color not only showcases his own personality but also reflects the culture and vibrance that is often overlooked in the immigrant experience. While this country can sometimes throw us curveballs, a lot of us immigrants, we figure it out, he said.

Salgado has been inspired by the mentors who opened doors for him growing up and now he does the same for others. As an arts program manager for the Center for Cultural Power, Salgado co-created The Disruptors Fellowship, a program for emerging television writers of color who identify as trans/and or non-binary, disabled, and undocumented/formerly undocumented immigrants. I think of little Julio and how important it was and is to tell our stories, he said.

My hope for undocumented students is that they get to focus on what they want to do with their lives and that their immigration status is no longer a thing that they are carrying, said Salgado. That they get to realize their dreams but use their experiences as undocumented immigrants to shape the work that they do.

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Growing up undocumented and queer, he turned art into activism the Hi-lo - Long Beach Post