From Escaping War to Congress: Representative Espaillat’s American Dream

Photo via Reuters

ANDREA SMITH: Representative Adriano Espaillat of New York’s 13th District was nine years old when he first came to the United States in 1964. Escaping the civil war in the Dominican Republic, Espaillat and his family anxiously awaited new beginnings in America, with a humble apartment in Washington Heights on 153rd St. and Broadway becoming their new home.

From a young age, Espaillat knew he would dedicate his life to public service and to easing the way for other undocumented immigrants trying to make it in the United States. His grandparents had been factory workers and his dad was a clerk at the local gas station. Their determination to give him and his siblings a better life in America grounded Espaillat throughout his political career. 

Fifty-four years later, Espaillat achieved the historic milestone of becoming the first Dominican American and former undocumented immigrant to take the oath of office in Congress. The first bill he introduced was to prevent walls from being built on federal lands within 100 miles of the border, called “This Land is Our Land.” 

“With immigration currently being one of the biggest crises America is facing, Espaillat’s background provides a pivotal perspective,” said Vannessa Gibson, the borough president of the Bronx, to On the Record. She added that Espaillat’s advocacy was vital “in order to create policy change that streamlines the path to citizenship and spearhead the reform necessary to empower the immigrant community in the US.”

In a recent interview with Politico, Espaillat described his approach to immigration policy as a matter of shared humanity. Reflecting on his earliest memories in the United States, he noted the “chilling effect” of being an illegal immigrant in the U.S. after overstaying their travel visas, reminiscing on conversations with his grandmother telling him to be careful where he walked and to not talk to strangers. He shared how terrifying it was for his family to return to the Dominican Republic even after their U.S. residency was approved in 1965 in order to be issued a green card, noting: “We did not know whether we would be able to come back as there was still a civil war going on there.”

That experience shaped how Espaillat approaches his constituents – including the undocumented residents of his district who cannot legally vote for him. His inner circle describes him as being extremely passionate about the work he does.

Betzaida Sanchez, his current communications director, explained to On the Record that Espaillat is a “boots on the ground” kind of person, emphasizing his top priority in ensuring that his constituents “not only feel served and understood but also heard.” 

Sanchez recalled how Espaillat went to greet the migrants that were sent to New York in buses by Texas Governor Greg Abbott earlier this year.  “He asked us to clear his schedule so that he could go and welcome those immigrants and help them work with the mayor of the city,” Sanchez said, adding that Espaillat’s team holds office hours every Monday through Thursday to give legal support to their constituents for various immigration-related issues.

Adriano Pucci, a former staffer for Espaillat, also described to On The Record Espaillat’s deeply personal approach when serving his constituents. “Every day in the district, Espaillat would be approached by constituents asking for help and instead of saying ‘here call my office’, he would say ‘here’s my phone number, text me and I will help you with your problem,’” Pucci recalled. “As a former coms staffer, this would drive me crazy, and I would say, ‘Sir you can’t just hand out your phone number to everyone.’ He didn’t care.” 

Pucci chalked up Espaillat’s hands-on approach to his own experience contending with the challenges of an undocumented immigrant. 

“Representative Espaillat is no stranger to adversity. He is very familiar with showing up and making space for himself when there wasn’t a seat at the table,” Pucci said. “This has been his approach in every room, every meeting, both in New York City and the Capitol; it's simply an intrinsic part of who he is.”

In Congress, that has meant spearheading a variety of different legislative vehicles to promote his view of a more just immigration system. He has written bills to require Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection officers to wear body cameras in official operations, to document their interactions with undocumented immigrants, as well as legislation prohibiting immigration enforcement be prohibited in "sensitive locations” like hospitals, schools, places of worship and courthouses. 

He has also cosponsored many pro-immigration bills, including measures to temporarily stop the deportations of undocumented children, put them on a pathway to citizenship, prevent federal funds from being withheld from sanctuary cities and provide legal aid to refugees.

Pucci underscored Espaillat’s initiative in seeking help to promote these agenda items from anywhere it is offered. Pucci recalled when French Montana, a well-known Moroccan American rapper, met with several older representatives in Congress in 2021 to discuss immigration reform.

“Instead of waiting in line and making a case for why he deserves to talk to French, Espaillat just walked right in through the group and said ‘Hey French, I heard you wanted to talk about immigration reform,’” Pucci said.  “‘You're from the Bronx,’” he recalled Espaillat telling Montana. “‘Let’s talk.’”

Andrea Smith is a staff writer from Orange County, California. She is a senior in the College majoring in Government with a double minor in Journalism and Spanish, and a concentration in International Relations.