Children of Immigrants Challenge Democrats on Deportation Defense
Her father spent three years in ICE detention before being deported. Now Aber Kawas is running for the New York State Senate — and she is not alone. Four candidates from immigrant families are challenging Democratic incumbents in next week's primaries, putting deportation defense at the center of their campaigns.
Four candidates raised in immigrant families are running in New York's primary elections, challenging Democratic incumbents from the left. Their central demand: stronger deportation defense and real protections for immigrant communities facing ICE enforcement. Election day is June 23, 2026, with early voting already underway.
Who Are These Candidates?
Darializa Avila Chevalier, an Afro-Latina daughter of Dominican immigrants, is running for Congress in New York's 13th congressional district. She wants to abolish ICE and mandate free legal representation for every immigrant in removal proceedings (the formal process where a judge decides if someone must leave the US). She also says she will support the American Dream & Promise Act, which would give DACA recipients and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders — immigrants allowed to stay temporarily due to unsafe conditions in their home countries — a path to citizenship.
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Chuck Park, son of Korean street peddlers who once sold clothes on Canal Street, is running against seven-term incumbent Grace Meng in New York's 6th congressional district. Park says ICE raids on Canal Street vendors last fall felt personal — his father was once undocumented. Aber Kawas, whose Palestinian refugee father was held in ICE detention for three years before being deported to Jordan, is running for a State Senate seat in Queens. She wants to pass an expanded version of the New York For All bill, which would end local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Samantha Kattan, an Arab-Latina daughter of Syrian and Mexican immigrants, is running for a State Assembly seat and also supports New York For All in full — including closing loopholes that still allow some data sharing between local police and ICE. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, himself a naturalized citizen, has endorsed several of these challengers.
Why This Matters for Immigrants
All four candidates say the Democratic Party has failed immigrant communities during the Trump administration's aggressive enforcement operations. They argue that elected officials must do more than express sympathy — they must pass laws that block ICE cooperation, provide legal help, and create real paths to citizenship for TPS holders and DACA recipients. Their campaigns show that immigration policy is now a defining issue in Democratic primaries, not just general elections.
What to do
- If you are a US citizen or permanent resident (green card holder) in New York, check your voter registration and find your polling location at vote.nyc before June 23, 2026.
- If you or a family member is at risk of deportation, contact a nonprofit immigration legal services organization in your area — many offer free or low-cost help with removal proceedings and bond hearings.
- If you hold TPS or are a DACA recipient, follow news about the American Dream & Promise Act closely — it may affect your path to a green card or citizenship.
- If you want to support candidates who prioritize deportation defense, look up your New York State Assembly, State Senate, or congressional district to see if any of these races are in your area.
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If ICE comes to your door, you have the right to remain silent and the right to refuse entry without a signed judicial warrant — not just an administrative ICE warrant. Anyone in removal proceedings should request a bond hearing immediately if detained, since delays can mean weeks or months in detention. These rights apply regardless of your immigration status, and consulting an immigration attorney before a crisis — not after — gives you the best chance of a good outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the New York For All bill and how does it protect immigrants?
New York For All is a proposed state law that would stop local police and government agencies from sharing information with ICE or helping with federal immigration enforcement. It has not yet passed in full — current law still allows some data sharing between local law enforcement and ICE.
What is TPS (Temporary Protected Status) and can it lead to a green card?
TPS is a temporary immigration status given to people from countries facing war, natural disasters, or other dangerous conditions. It lets you live and work legally in the US, but it does not automatically lead to a green card. Some candidates are pushing for legislation that would give TPS holders a path to permanent residency.
What should I do if ICE comes to my home or workplace?
You have the right to remain silent. Do not open the door unless ICE shows a judicial warrant signed by a judge. You can ask to see the warrant through the door or a window. Do not sign any documents without speaking to an immigration lawyer first. Contact a legal aid organization as soon as possible.
What is a removal proceeding and how is it different from an ICE arrest?
An ICE arrest is when immigration agents detain you. A removal proceeding is the formal court process — held in immigration court — where a judge decides whether you must leave the US. You have the right to an attorney in removal proceedings, but the government does not have to provide one for free. That is why candidates like Darializa Avila Chevalier are calling for mandatory free legal representation for all immigrants in court.