Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who won New York’s 13th Congressional District last week, believes that a pathway to citizenship for all people is the only way to create a dignified immigration system.
Coming from a family of Dominican immigrants, Chevalier believes that any immigration system should help immigrants from all social backgrounds and countries of origin equally.
“You know, I really do support a pathway to citizenship for all people,” Avila Chevalier said in an interview. “I think that’s the only way to have a dignified immigration system.”
Avila Chevalier said that she was talking about LULAC’s petition for the creation of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
“So, Congresswoman, LULAC has a petition now, has a couple hundred thousand signatures in the last two days to support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people,” the interviewer said. “Is that something that you would want, you know, you’d be willing to work with the White House on?”
Avila Chevalier did not give a clear answer as to whether she would work with the White House, but she expressed concern about how this plan will be implemented.
“You know, I always have questions out of, you know, how we’re doing that to make sure it’s actually dignified for immigrant communities,” she stated.
Avila Chevalier also talked about her personal experience.
“As someone who grew up is the daughter of immigrants and grew up watching my parents navigate the system, I always want to make sure that it is supportive to people of all socioeconomic classes, all national origins, and making sure we have true dignity for all in our immigration system,” Avila Chevalier added.
At age 32, Avila Chevalier beat out the incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the June 23 Democratic primary race. The Associated Press projected her win against Espaillat with 49% to his 46%. This year, after serving for five terms, he was voted out of office.
Avila Chevalier has defeated Republican Jomo Williams in the Nov. 3 general election. She will become the first female representative of the district, which includes upper Manhattan and part of the Bronx. It is a heavily Democratic district.
Avila Chevalier, whom New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani supports, campaigned on abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, expanding pathways to citizenship, and providing free legal representation for immigrants in federal proceedings.
