>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ" IS PROVIDED BY FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY.

THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, RECEIVERING THE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

♪♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX," I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WE DO TAKE, FROM TIME TO TIME ON "CHAT BOX," AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS THE STATE OF LATINO NEW JERSEY, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS WEEK IN THE MIDDLE OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

WE HAVE AN INTERESTED AND INTERESTING PANEL COMING UP IN THE SECOND HALF OF OUR PROGRAM, BUT WE BEGIN WITH THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY, THE LONGEST SERVING LATINO CURRENT MEMBER OF THE U.S. SENATE, BOB MENENDEZ.

SENATOR, GOOD TO SEA YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, DAVID, AND ALL YOUR VIEWERS ON "CHAT BOX."

>> WAS I RIGHT THERE?

LONGEST SERVING LATINO SENATOR CURRENTLY?

>> YEP.

THAT IS TRUE.

AND PROBABLY THE LONGEST SERVING OVERALL IN CONGRESS AS WELL.

>> SO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE OF LATINO NEW JERSEY.

I KNOW IT MAY BE A LITTLE HARD TO QUANTIFY, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK ANYWAY.

ARE LATINOS BETTER OFF TODAY THAN THEY WERE FOUR YEARS AGO, EIGHT YEARS AGO OR EVER?

>> DAVID, I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES.

LATINOS HAVE, YOU KNOW, PROGRESSED DRAMATICALLY ECONOMICALLY, EDUCATIONALLY IN TERMS OF ACHIEVEMENT, THE FASTEST RATE OF GROWTH OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE ENTIRE NATION ARE LATINA-OWNED BUSINESSES.

OBVIOUSLY, IN GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE SEEN AN EXPLOSION OF HISPANIC ELECTED LEADERS IN OUR STATE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM FROM THE LEGISLATURE, FROM CABINET POSITIONS IN THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET TO COUNTY AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, SO WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.

THERE IS STILL, HOWEVER, MUCH MORE TO DO AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN WE LOOK AT NATIONAL NUMBERS AS IT RELATES TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT LOCAL I.C.E.

ISSUE, THESE CONTRACTS THE PUBLIC PRISONS ARE OUT OF THE IMMIGRATION DETAINEE BUSINESS, BUT NOW THESE DETAINEES ARE BEING HELD FURTHER FROM HOME.

IT'S, I GUESS, ONE OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THIS.

IS THERE A REMEDY TO THAT?

>> WELL, SENATOR BOOKER AND I HAVE BOTH CALLED ON I.C.E.

TO RELEASE INDIVIDUALS WHO POSE NO PUBLIC RISK.

THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NO CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS.

THEY'RE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NO HISTORY OF VIOLENCE.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO, UNDER MANY OTHER PROCEDURES THAT WE HAVE, FROM ANKLE BRACELETS TO CASE MANAGEMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT HAS SHOWN THAT 95% OF THOSE UNDER CASE MANAGEMENT SHOW UP FOR THEIR HEARINGS.

SO, IT IS LESS COSTLY TO THE U.S.

TAXPAYER.

IT IS FAR MORE HUMANE AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND THEN IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH INDIVIDUALS BEING SENT TO DETENTION IN PLACES FURTHER AWAY EITHER FROM FAMILY OR THEIR COUNSEL.

>> SO MUCH HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE RULING ON SUNDAY FROM THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN WHO RULED THAT CHANGES TO THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF SO-CALLED DREAMERS COULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE SENATE BUDGET BILL.

I GUESS IT WAS MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD FIND A WORK AROUND.

IS THERE ONE?

FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT ONLY DISAPPOINTED BY THE PARLIAMENTARIAN'S RULING, I THINK HER RULING IS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, RESPECTFULLY, FLAWED.

THE PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION IN A BUDGET IS, DOES SOMETHING HAVE A BUDGET IMPACT, AND IS IT SIGNIFICANT IN SUCH A WAY?

WELL, I THINK THAT $1.4 TRILLION GROWTH THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE SAID WOULD HAPPEN IF LEGALIZATION TOOK PLACE AND GDP IN THE COUNTRY, I THINK THAT 400,000 NEW JOBS THAT WOULD BE CREATED, I THINK THAT RAISING THE WAGES OF ALL AMERICANS AS A RESULT OF LEGALIZATION BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE AN UNDERCLASS, I THINK THE OVER BILLION THAT WOULD BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE SOLVENT.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE LEADING ECONOMIC FACTORS, NOT BECAUSE I SAY IT BUT THE NONPARTISAN SCORER OF EVERYTHING WE DO, THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE SAID IT SO I THINK SHE WAS WRONG IN THAT REGARD, BUT LOOKING AT HER OPINION, WE HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR VARIOUS OPTIONS.

WE WENT WITH THE STRONGEST OPTION IN TERMS OF THE GREATEST POSSIBILITY FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT WE ARE PREPARED FOR OTHER OPTIONS, AND WE WILL BE DELIVERING THOSE TO THE PARLIAMENTARIAN AND WILL KEEP GOING BACK UNTIL WE GET A YES TO ONE OF THESE OPTIONS.

>> AND QUESTION KIND OF RELATED TO THIS, IS A RESOLUTION TO THE DACA QUESTION ALL IMMIGRATION ACTIVISTS AND ADVOCATES ARE GOING TO EXPECT FROM THIS CONGRESS?

I MEAN, IMMIGRATION WAS A -- INITIATIVE.

>> YES, WELL, LOOK, WHAT WE'VE PRESENTED TO THE PARLIAMENTARIAN WASN'T JUST DACA.

WE PRESENTED A BROAD BASE LEGALIZATION PROGRAM SO DACA, TPS, FARM WORKERS, ESSENTIAL WORKERS, WHICH IS A POINT TO BE MADE, AS YOU'RE CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, WHEN ALL OF US WERE TOLD TO STAY HOME BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, ESSENTIAL WORKERS, WHICH WERE OVERWHELMINGLY LATINO, IN OUR MARKETS, IN POULTRY PLANTS, IN MEAT-PACKING POSITIONS, IN DELIVERY POSITIONS, THEY WERE ON THE FRONT LINE IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, RISKING THEIR LIVES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ESSENTIAL.

THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO US DURING THE PANDEMIC AND IN OUR ECONOMY, THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO ULTIMATELY FIND A PATHWAY.

SO, IT HAS TO BE MORE THAN DREAMERS AT THE END OF THE DAY.

ALTHOUGH, DREAMERS, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO SEE HAPPEN AS PART OF THAT UNION.

>> I MEAN, YOU WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL GANG OF EIGHT THE LAST TIME THERE WAS ANYTHING CLOSE TO AN IMMIGRATION COMPROMISE.

WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION RIGHT NOW?

I'M GOING TO ASSUME IT'S VERY HIGH.

>> WELL, I'M DEEPLY, DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED.

IN 2013, WHEN I WORKED WITH THE LATE JOHN McCAIN AND THEN THE VIEWS OF LINDSEY GRAHAM, WHICH ARE DIFFERENT NOW, AND OTHER REPUBLICANS, WE PASSED COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM IN THE SENATE WITH 67 VOTES.

GETTING 67 VOTES ON A LARGE AND CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE IS NOT EASY, BUT WE DID.

BUT THE REPUBLICANS OF 2013 ARE NOT THE REPUBLICANS OF 2021.

WE HAD OVER 10 MEETINGS WITH SOME REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO SAID THEY WERE INTERESTED IN SOME ITEM OF REFORM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE FOUND THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET EVEN TO A REASONABLE PROSPECT.

SO, THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS AS A WAY TO GO IT ALONE.

UNFORTUNATELY, REPUBLICANS WON'T JOIN US WHEN POLL AFTER POLL SAYS THAT AMERICANS UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE REFORM.

>> SO, ON TO THIS BROADER QUESTION OF THOSE BILLS.

THE BUDGET BILL, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, THEY'RE TWO BILLS AND BOTH OF THEM SEEM TO BE AT RISK.

ARE THEY?

>> I THINK WE'LL GET THERE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

I MEAN, THE PROCESS OF LEGISLATING ISN'T ALWAYS PRETTY.

AND THE -- OUR FRIENDS IN THE PRESS ARE FOCUSED ON PROCESS, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE SUBSTANCE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GIVING THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND GIVING FAMILIES IN NEW JERSEY ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1,500 TO $3,000 TOWARDS MAINTENANCE OF THEIR -- HELPING THEM WITH THEIR CHILDREN, THAT'S BIG.

THAT LISTS HALF OF ALL OF NEW JERSEY CHILDREN IN POVERTY OUT OF POVERTY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEALING WITH SOME OF THE HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, PARTICULARLY FOR SENIORS, THAT HELPS PARTICULARLY THE LATINO COMMUNITY AS WELL.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DRAMATICALLY REDUCING THE COST OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION, AS WE CONTINUE TO BE THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE NEARLY A THIRD OF ALL CHILDREN IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHIN THE NEXT TEN YEARS WILL BE LATINO.

THAT MEANS A THIRD OF THE NATION'S COMPETITIVE FUTURE WILL BE LATINO.

SO, I BELIEVE WE'LL GET THERE.

I BELIEVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WHICH IS CERTAINLY VERY IMPORTANT TO US IN NEW JERSEY IN THE PAST, I VOTED FOR IT IN THE SENATE, WE'LL EVENTUALLY GET THERE, BUT OF COURSE EVERYBODY'S USING THEIR MOMENT OF LEVERAGE TO TRY TO GET WHAT THEY WANT, AND IT'S PART OF THE PROCESS, AND SO I'M NOT AS ALARMED AS OTHERS ARE.

I THINK WE WILL GET THERE AND I THINK IT WILL BE BOLD, AND I THINK IT WILL BE REALLY CONSEQUENTIAL AND BENEFICIAL WAY TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY, TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND TO THE NATION.

>> I WANT TO GET JUST THIS ONE LAST QUESTION.

POLICE REFORM ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN DEALT A FATAL BLOW, NEGOTIATIONS THERE BROKE DOWN.

I KNOW SENATOR BOOKER WAS PLAYING A BIG ROLE IN THIS, BUT THERE WERE HIGH HOPES FOR THIS DEAL, AND IT REALLY RAISES THE QUESTION, WHAT DID A YEAR OF UPHEAVAL ON THE STREETS MEAN, IF CONGRESS CAN'T EVEN COME UP WITH A BASIC PROTECTION PLAN FOR BLACK AND BROWN AND POOR SNEEM PEOPLE?

>> WELL, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, BUT I WOULD MODIFY YOUR QUESTION.

BECAUSE VERY OFTEN, WE USE THE WORD "CONGRESS" AS A WHOLE.

SENATOR BOOKER AND DEMOCRATS WERE LEADING THE WAY ON POLICE REFORM AND HAVE EMBRACED POLICE REFORM.

WE EMBRACED THE POLICE AS A CRITICAL INSTITUTION OF SECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE ALSO EMBRACED THE FACT THAT THEIR WORK SHOULD BE DONE IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF ANY PERSON, CERTAINLY NOT ANY BLACK OR BROWN PERSON, AND SO HE HAS BEEN STRUGGLING MIGHTILY WITH HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH THEY ULTIMATELY COULD NOT GET THE VOTES NECESSARY.

SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, BUT ON MANY OF THESE THINGS, IF WE HAD VOTES FROM REPUBLICANS ON IMMIGRATION, LIKE WE DID IN 2013, WE COULD PASS IT.

IF WE HAD VOTES FROM REPUBLICANS ON POLICE REFORM, WE COULD PASS IT.

WE'RE IN A SPLIT SENATE, 50/50, AND THE ONLY TIME WE GET TO PASS SOMETHING IS WHEN WE CAN AMALGAMATE 60 VOTES.

THAT'S THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE.

BUT I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHO IS THE IMPEDIMENT TO TRY AND ACHIEVE SOME OF THESE AND WHO IS NOT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, DAVID.

>>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S BRING IN OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL NOW.

PRESIDENT OF LATINA CIVIC AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WORKERS INSTITUTE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF 1199 SEIU, SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL.

AND JOSE IS THE CHAIR OF THE NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN CHAIRMANS ASSOCIATION.

HOLA, PANEL, GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE OF LATINO NEW JERSEY.

WE HEARD FROM THE SENATOR THERE, LATINOS ARE BETTER OFF TODAY THAN EVER, HE SAYS.

I GUESS THAT DEPENDS, THOUGH, PATRICIA.

SO MUCH OF THE SUFFERING FROM THE PANDEMIC, I FEEL, HAS BEEN AMONG LATINOS.

>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR RESPONSE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS OF LATINO WORKERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE AGGREGATE.

I THINK NATIONALLY, BECAUSE WE ARE A GROWING POPULATION, WE ARE VERY ACTIVE ECONOMICALLY, WE ARE GROWING IN OUR BUSINESS AND OPPORTUNITY.

WE ARE BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE BEFORE, AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING AND SO THERE'S A MORE OF A ASSESSMENT THAT WE ARE PART OF THE ECONOMIC VIBRANCY OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF ANY ECONOMY.

HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT SPECIFIC -- SPECIFICALLY WHO GOT THE MOST IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC, AND WHY, THEN YOU GET TO SEE THE DIFFERENCES.

IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT OF JOB LOSS, IN TERMS OF WHO GOT SICK, WHO HAS ACCESS TO VACCINATIONS.

THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LESS ACCESS AND SUFFERED THE MOST ECONOMICALLY ARE LATINOS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

AND WHY?

BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF THE MOST PRECARIOUS WORKING PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE ARE PART OF THOSE WHO ARE PERHAPS HAVE LESS ECONOMIC SECURITY.

WE HAVE LESS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, SO WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, WE WERE THE ONES AT THE RECEIVING END OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

THOSE ECONOMIC IMPACTS WILL LAST FOR GENERATIONS.

SO, BECAUSE NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY WERE AT THE CENTER OF THE PANDEMIC IMPACT, WE WILL SEE THAT IMPACT FOR A LONG TIME TO COME AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO FOCUS ECONOMIC INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS THAT LONG-TERM IMPACT.

>> HEALTH DISPARITIES LAID BARE BY THE PANDEMIC.

FOR THOSE RECEIVING SERVICES.

BUT SERVICE PROVIDERS, THOSE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, REALLY SAVAGED BY THE PANDEMIC, NO?

>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, DAVID.

AND ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IN RESPONSE TO DR. CAMPOS-MEDINA'S COMMENTS ARE THAT KAISER FOUNDATION JUST ISSUED A REPORT A DAY OR TWO AGO THAT SHOWED THAT IN NEW JERSEY, ONE OF THREE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PRESENTING AS BEING POSITIVE FOR COVID ARE LATINOS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE ARE 21% OF THE POPULATION IN THE STATE.

SO, THAT DATA SHOWS US THAT THERE'S A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THE LATINX COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF BEING -- CONTRACTING COVID.

AND THEN ON THE WORKER PIECE, THERE IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, A DISPROPORTIONATE AS WELL ON BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS, INCLUDING THE LATINX COMMUNITY.

I AM AN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AT 1199 SCIU.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WE REPRESENT ARE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND THEY DO BOTH THE HIGHEST-PAYING JOBS IN THE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL SECTOR AS WELL AS SOME OF THE LOWER WAGE JOBS.

THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS BY CLEANING THE ROOMS OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS COVID OR PREPARING THE MEALS FOR THE PEOPLE AT THE HOSPITAL AND AT THE NURSING HOME, AND WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT THEY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO WIN FAMILY-SUSTAINING WAGES.

THEY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC DATA IN NEW JERSEY, WE SEE THAT WHILE THE AVERAGE PER CAPITA INCOME MIGHT BE $45,000 FOR MANY NEW JERSEYANS, FOR THE LATINX COMMUNITY, IT'S $25,000.

SO, ARE WE BETTER NOW?

I WOULD SAY YES.

WE ARE BETTER.

BUT ARE WE WHERE WE NEED TO BE?

I WOULD SAY, NOT YET.

>> YEAH.

WELL, YOUR DAY JOB IS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SO YOU HAVE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE LOCKDOWNS, ET CETERA, THAT IT HAD ON LATINO BUSINESSES.

THEY'VE BEEN THE ENGINE OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN NEW JERSEY FOR YEARS NOW.

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED LATINO SMALL BUSINESS?

>> I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, IMPACT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH MRS. SILVA AND DR. MEDINA.

REALLY, THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AFFECTED AND ESPECIALLY I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

I WAS -- I GOT CORONAVIRUS MYSELF.

I WAS IN QUARANTINE.

I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

I HAVE BEEN THERE ON THE FRONT LINES HELPING THE SMALL BUSINESS.

AND REALLY, WE HAVE, I THINK, ALL THE PANELISTS ARE RIGHT IN WHAT THEY SAY, AND ALSO, WHAT WE HAVE TO BE PROUD IS THAT OUR COMMUNITY, GUYS UP THERE, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE LATINO COMMUNITY, THEY ARE SURVIVORS.

THEY REALLY, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A LOT OF OBSTACLES, IT'S TRUE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF DISADVANTAGE, BUT THE LATINO COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PIONEER ON HELPING THE COMMUNITY ON THIS CRISIS.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION HERE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH TALK AND SO LITTLE ACTION.

IT REMINDS ME OF A LINE IN A SONG, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON BUT AIN'T A DAMN THING HAPPENING.

I.C.E.

CONTRACTS ENDED.

NOW DETAINEES ARE GETTING SENT HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ESSENTIAL WORKERS COME TO WORK OR BE FIRED.

UNDOCUMENTED, SORRY, NO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

NO STIMULUS CHECKS.

PATRICIA, HAVE YOU LOST ALL HOPE FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, OR ANY IMMIGRATION REFORM?

>> I THINK THAT WE -- COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM LIES IN THE HANDS OF CONGRESS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE STUCK IN CONGRESS IN A LACK OF BIPARTISANSHIP ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN CHANGING THE TONE OF HOW WE ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION COMING FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME -- A STRATEGIC POLICY TRANSFORMATION IN OUR -- IN HOW WE APPROACH ENFORCEMENT, HOW WE APPROACH RECEIVING OF REFUGEES.

HOW DO WE INTEGRATE INTO OUR SOCIETY AND HOW DO WE PROVIDE A PATH TO LEGALIZATION TO 1.11 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS?

THAT IS A FUNCTION OF CONGRESS AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE THAT -- THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAN DO AND HE'S TRYING, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO FORCE THE QUESTION ON THE CONGRESS AND ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO BE REAL ABOUT NEGOTIATING A WAY OUT.

>> A REPUBLICAN FRIEND OF MINE SAID THIS TO ME, AND I'LL ASK YOU, JOSE, AS THE REPUBLICAN ON THE PANEL HERE, CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THE PRESIDENT TODAY WAS DONALD TRUMP AND IMMIGRATION WAS IN SUCH A MESS, WHAT KIND OF PROTESTS WOULD YOU BE HEARING FROM DEMOCRATS ON THE LEFT?

>> WELL, ANYTHING THAT DONALD TRUMP DID WAS BAD AND I BLAME HIM IN MANY WAYS BECAUSE OF HIS WAY AS PRESIDENT HIMSELF.

THE POLICIES WEREN'T BAD.

THE COMMUNICATION WAS HORRIBLE.

THE REALITY IS THE LAST COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM HAPPENED DURING THE REAGAN-BUSH YEARS AS REPUBLICANS IN 2013 WAS THE BIPARTISAN EFFORT, AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING, IMMIGRATION REFORM AND THE WORLD BEING OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE LOOKING FOR A BETTER FUTURE, IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY.

IT'S A MATTER OF RESPONSIBILITY AS A COUNTRY.

AND I THINK BOTH PARTIES HAVE BEEN REALLY IRRESPONSIBLE ON THAT COMING TO THE TABLE TO LOOK FOR A SOLUTION FOR THIS.

YOU KNOW, IT GETS TO A POINT THAT I'M LATINO FIRST AND I'M A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

AND AS A LATINO, AS A HISPANIC, I THINK MOST PARTIES SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED OF THE WAY THEY TREAT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

>> I WANT TO MAKE A CORRECTION.

CAN I JUST SAY, BECAUSE, YES, RONALD REAGAN ESTABLISHED THE LAST LEGALIZATION OF UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS BUT HE ALSO ESTABLISHED ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS FOR WORKERS.

AND WITH -- IF YOU ARE FOUND TO BE WORKING OFF PAPERS, YOU GET PENALIZED FOR THAT.

THAT WAS MADE WORSE BY CLINTON.

BUT WE CANNOT JUST GIVE CREDIT TO RONALD REAGAN.

HE ALSO NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CREATING THE ENFORCEMENT PATH THAT WAS REINFORCED BY CLINTON AND THAT'S MADE WORSE BY PRESIDENT BUSH AFTER 9/11.

>> AND I -- >> WANT TO HAVE AN IMMIGRATION REFORM AND THE DEMOCRATS SAID STOP IT BECAUSE THEY'RE PLAYING POLITICS.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE -- >> I'M NOT -- I'M NOT A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMMUNITY.

MY COMMUNITY COMES FIRST THAN ANY PARTY.

>> I THINK JOSE, WE ALL AGREE THAT OUR COMMUNITY COMES FIRST.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE, A FEW MINUTES AGO, WE HEARD FROM SENATOR MENENDEZ IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE ON OUR NATIONAL POLITICS.

AND POINTING OUT THAT WE HAVE WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C., BOTH WITH OUR U.S. SENATE AS WELL AS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AND I WOULD POINT OUT THE FOLLOWING.

ALL OF THE NATIONAL SURVEYS AND ALSO IN NEW JERSEY SHOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS AGREE THAT IT IS TIME FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS FULLY SUPPORTED.

I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ROLE THAT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, AND WHEN I SAY IMMIGRANT, I MEAN BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, NOT JUST A LATINX ISSUE, THAT THEY ARE VERY MUCH FUNDAMENTAL TO THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THIS COUNTRY AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE WELCOMED.

AND THAT FRANKLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, YOU CAN DO THAT AS WELL AS HAVE A NATIONAL SECURITY.

SENATOR MENENDEZ WAS PART OF THE GANG OF EIGHT WHERE THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTIVE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ACHIEVE THE EFFORTS THAT NOW WE NEED AND WE HAVE NOT YET REACHED.

AND SO, I DO THINK THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS TO RECOGNIZE THE ROLE THAT THEY HAVE PLAYED IN RECENT HISTORY, AND FRANKLY BEING AN OBSTACLE TO ENACTING COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM AND THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, FRANKLY, FOSTERED A SPIRIT OF DEMONIZING THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF WHO THEY ARE IN THIS STATE AND IN OUR COUNTRY, AND ALSO, THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF OUR OWN CANDIDATES HERE IN NEW JERSEY, AND HOW THEY ARE APPROACHING WHAT THEIR VALUES ARE, YOU HAVE TO QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE ALSO WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO THEY MIGHT DEMONIZE OR THE PEOPLE WHO THEY ALIGN WITH IN TERMS OF THEIR POLITICS ADMINISTRATION ARE NOT GOING TO BE HELPFUL IN RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF WHO THE LATINOS ARE IN NEW JERSEY, IN OUR COUNTRY, AS WELL AS OF OTHER BLACK AND BROWN IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COUNTRY.

>> THERE'S A POLITICIZATION THAT HAS HAPPENED BOTH IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION AS WELL AS WITH COVID, JOSE.

I MEAN, THE REALITY IS THAT WE KNOW THAT -- >> I'M NOT -- >> AND IT'S A PROBLEM.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, AND WE HAVE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED, THAT WE SHOULD NOT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO IMPLEMENT PROTOCOLS THAT WOULD KEEP THEM HEALTHY AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, AND SO, I THINK IT'S WRONG THAT IT HAS BEEN POLITICIZED.

I THINK THAT IT IS, FRANKLY, IMMORAL.

AND I THINK THAT IT IS A DISSERVICE TO THE PEOPLE WHO THEY REPRESENT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE ELECTED TO OFFICE, YOUR JOB IS NOT TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU, BUT IT IS TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY WHO IS IN YOUR -- WHO IS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE.

>> BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT YOU CAN'T BLAME ONLY THE REPUBLICANS TO CREATE A POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE AROUND THE CORONAVIRUS BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS HAD TO SQUEEZE THE ORANGE PRETTY GOOD ON THAT.

AND THE REALITY IS -- >> THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

JOSE, THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

THE REALITY IS THAT -- >> CRISIS ON CRISIS.

THE REALITY IS -- >> IMMIGRATION ISSUE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE LAST IMMIGRATION REFORM WAS RONALD REAGAN AND GEORGE BUSH.

THE LAST ONE IN 2013 WAS GEORGE BUSH WITH BOB MENENDEZ ON THE TEAM THERE.

RIGHT NOW, THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE CONGRESS, CONTROL THE SENATE, AND CONTROL THE PRESIDENCY.

AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY IMMIGRATION REFORM FROM JOE BIDEN OR KAMALA HARRIS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.

THANKS, EVERYBODY.

MILI, PATRICIA, JOSE, GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON WITH US.

THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS ALSO TO SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ.

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>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT NJ.

THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.