Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and other Senate Democrats are once again urging President Joe Biden to take executive action to grant amnesty to certain illegal immigrants residing in the United States. This renewed effort by Cortez Masto comes after one of her staffers was tragically killed, allegedly by an illegal immigrant.
At a press conference with Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Cortez Masto called on Biden to implement executive orders that would provide legal status to specific groups of undocumented individuals. Those eligible for amnesty would include those married to U.S. citizens, individuals considered essential to the economy, and those who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Cortez Masto emphasized the financial contributions made by undocumented immigrants in Nevada, citing that they paid millions in federal, state, and local taxes. She argued that it is important to keep these families together and urged President Biden to take action on their behalf.
This push for amnesty holds significance for Cortez Masto, as it follows the tragic death of her senior adviser, Kurt Englehart, in a hit-and-run incident allegedly caused by an 18-year-old illegal immigrant named Elmer Rueda-Linares. Rueda-Linares, who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021 and was later released into the country, was initially charged with felony hit-and-run but now faces a lesser charge.
Cortez Masto paid tribute to Englehart on the Senate floor, highlighting the impact of his loss. The Senator’s advocacy for amnesty for certain undocumented individuals continues to be a priority, despite the personal tragedy she and her team have experienced.
