Cortez Masto Highlights Her Immigration Reform Bill, Shares Impact on Nevada Families

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Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a press conference to highlight her commonsense immigration reform bill, the Fairness for Immigrant Families Act, and share the impact it would have on Nevada families. Cortez Masto was joined by representatives from the Nevada Immigrant Coalition, the Latin Chamber of Commerce, the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Culinary Union, and One APIA Nevada.

"For decades, our immigration system has made it nearly impossible for long-term undocumented immigrants to become citizens. It leaves them and their families exposed and keeps hardworking Nevadans in the shadows. It's time for a solution," said Senator Cortez Masto. "That's why I introduced commonsense legislation that gets rid of many of the barriers that keep people undocumented and protects immigrants who have been working and contributing to our country for decades."

The Fairness for Immigrant Families Act is aimed at fixing America's broken immigration system and setting up a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who have spent decades living in and contributing to this country. It addresses the outdated laws complicating our immigration system, cracks down on notario fraud, and sets up guardrails against detention and deportation for immigrants who deserve stability, like DACA recipients and parents of U.S. citizens.

"As the Nevada Immigrant Coalition, we support Senator Cortez Masto's Fairness for Immigrant Families Act because we know it will bring much-needed relief to our immigrant communities at a time when they are under attack and things feel so uncertain. This legislation will help remove arbitrary barriers so long-term undocumented immigrants can finally adjust their status. It would protect DACA recipients and others waiting for application approval from deportation, while also requiring stronger oversight when separating any US-citizen child from their parents due to deportation. It's time for our communities to have solutions for the broken immigration system and this is one of them," said Erika Castro, Steering Committee Member of the Nevada Immigrant Coalition.

"DACA recipients are more than Dreamers-they are our neighbors, our workforce, and part of America's future. Giving them certainty gives our nation strength," said Peter Guzman, President of the Latin Chamber of Commerce, NV.

"Every survivor of domestic and sexual violence deserves to seek safety without fear that reaching out for help will put themselves or their family at greater risk. For immigrant survivors, the threat of immigration enforcement is often weaponized by abusers to deepen fear, isolation, and control. The Fairness for Immigrant Families Act recognizes that survivors cannot access safety and justice when they are afraid that it will lead to detention or deportation. By strengthening protections for immigrant victims and witnesses, this legislation helps ensure that immigration status is not a tool of abuse and that every survivor has the opportunity to seek safety, support, and justice," said Elizabeth Abdur-Raheem, Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence CEO.

"Culinary Union applauds Senator Cortez Masto for bringing forward the Fairness for Immigrant Families Act that will allow long-term members of our community to live without fear, keep families together, and work to fix the harms of Trump's family separation machine," said Diana Valles, President of the Culinary Union. "Immigrants are the ones who keep this city running. Culinary Union members make the beds, cook the food, and clean the rooms. Immigrants belong and we are here to stay."

"One APIA Nevada stands with Senator Cortez Masto and our community partners because keeping Nevada families together is how we keep Nevada strong. Here in Nevada, our AANHPI community isn't a small slice of this story. We're more than 410,000 people, about 13% of this state, and the fastest-growing racial group in Nevada. The Fairness for Immigrant Families Act gives immigrants a real, fair shot to stay with the families they've built and helps them chase the same American dream generations before them chased," said Eric Jeng, Executive Director of One APIA Nevada.

The first and only Latina Senator, Cortez Masto has consistently supported immigrant communities in Nevada. She has called on both the Biden Administration and Trump Administration to protect Dreamers, TPS holders, and other immigrants. Cortez Masto has worked to pass meaningful immigration reform that balances critical border security measures with a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. Earlier this month, the Senator attended and spoke at a naturalization ceremony for new American citizens at the Sand Harbor Amphitheater at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

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