Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) says that he’s seeking to build a bipartisan coalition to tackle immigration and border security, focused on “business, the Bible, and badges.”
Mr. Suozzi, co-chair of the newly formed Democrats for Border Security Task Force along with Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), said he wants a collective effort to lobby Congress and “force it to do its job.”
Under the business prong, Mr. Suozzi cited the need for a long-term immigration fix for companies, farmers, hospitals, and manufacturers to better plan for the future of the nation’s economic health.
“Immigrant workers have become an essential part of the U.S. workforce, contributing across sectors and playing a noteworthy role in our country’s economy,” Mr. Suozzi said.
Under “badges,” Mr. Suozzi is advocating partnerships with law enforcement to provide new, innovative technology and cutting-edge tools.
Mr. Suozzi has had a rocky relationship with law enforcement. Twelve police unions endorsed Republican candidate Mazi Pilip during New York’s special election in February. The Superior Officers Association (SOA) of Nassau County was among them.
Despite the snub, Ricky Frassetti, president of the SOA of Nassau County, said border security law enforcement stakeholders are likely to listen.
“It’s always good to have a seat at the table, to be able to understand exactly what Congressman Suozzi wants to do, and I would think drones, if they don’t use them already at the border, would be phenomenal technology for the officers,” Mr. Frassetti told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Suozzi said in his email that by “Bible,” he is referring to religious and secular values, such as that all men and women are created equal and that all are entitled to human respect and dignity.
“Spiritual and secular leaders of all kinds can join hands to practice what they preach: the golden rule, human dignity, and the worth of all people,” he said.
“What he’s proposing when he says ‘business, the Bible, and badges’ is that we need to look at the economics, the security, and humanitarian part of the border,” George Farag, an expert in U.S. immigrant and nonimmigrant visa policy, told The Epoch Times. “He’s smart enough to understand that for anything to come close to passing Congress, it cannot be legislation that gives the impression of open borders.”
Mr. Farag served as a diplomat and consular officer at U.S. embassies in Iraq and Lebanon.
“Two things the majority of Americans on all party sides agree on is increasing border security and that our policy on asylum-seekers needs to change, and I think Tom Suozzi is taking that into consideration by trying to propose something that would make sense to a Republican counterpart,” Mr. Farag said.
To pass legislation, Mr. Suozzi must win Republican support, but the GOP aims to limit illegal immigration by closing the border.
Currently, the Biden administration’s immigration parole system allows people who aren’t U.S. citizens to remain in the United States if they apply for admission even if they lack a legal basis to do so.
Earlier this year, Mr. Suozzi won back his seat in the House of Representatives after defeating Ms. Pilip in a contested special election to replace Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who was removed from office after federal prosecutors charged him with dozens of crimes, including campaign fraud and corruption.
His victory chipped away at the majority that Republicans had in the House.
Mr. Suozzi’s Republican opponent in November’s general election, Mike LiPetri, recounted Mr. Suozzi’s past positions on immigration.
“Tom Suozzi voted to fund sanctuary cities,” Mr. LiPetri told The Epoch Times. “He just recently voted against prohibiting noncitizens from voting in our United States elections. He wants his district constituents to think he’s something he’s not and the people see right through it. He just voted against the SAVE Act.”
Congress approved the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which requires voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration. However, President Joe Biden has vowed to veto it.
“Suozzi is trying to tout himself as somebody who is going to push for added security when it’s a totally baseless claim,” Mr. LiPetri said. “This man walks a tightrope because all he cares about is reelection as opposed to doing right.”
Mr. Cuellar didn’t respond to requests for comment.
