An immigrant lawmaker’s role in Trump time

Adriano Espaillat has had a big year. 

In June, the outgoing state senator won a nine-person primary race to replace 46-year incumbent Rep. Charles Rangel in the House, narrowly defeating Assemblyman Keith Wright by 849 votes. 

Then in July, he appeared on the national stage to speak at the Democratic national convention in Philadelphia, along with a slew of other New York Democrats, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Rep. Eliot Engel and Sen. Charles Schumer. 

Finally, in November, though it was all but certain in a district containing parts of Harlem, Washington Heights and the Bronx, the representative-elect officially beat Republican Tony Evans in the general election. 

The historic win signifies the first time this seat has changed hands since Mr. Rangel replaced Adam Clayton Powell in 1971.  However, Mr. Espaillat is also the first Dominican-American elected to Congress and will become the first federal lawmaker to have formerly been an undocumented immigrant. 

“I’ve already made my request to [Democratic Minority] Leader [Nancy] Pelosi for committee assignments and I’m also preparing for my swearing in ceremony on Jan. 3,” Mr. Espaillat said of his transition process. “So this is a very exciting time.”

However, the federal government he is walking into is not the one he expected; Republicans control both chambers of Congress and President-elect Donald Trump will take office just over two weeks after Mr. Espaillat, leaving the rookie representative to find his place in an administration that has repeatedly spoken out against illegal immigration and promotes border strength over amnesty for undocumented immigrants. 

“I think we had not expected that the results for the presidential race would turn out the way that they are now,” he said. “Nevertheless I think this is a great opportunity to get many things accomplished.” 

Mr. Espaillat emphasized his personal meaning of putting America first, a rallying cry of conservatives and Mr. Trump throughout the election season. 

“I think America is first when it is open to immigration policies that make it stronger,” he said. “Young people, for example, who have been here for as long as maybe their entire lives—as young as 2- or 3-years-old—allowing them to become legal residents and to access higher education, that’s putting America first.”

Mr. Espaillat is not only an immigrant, but he is about to represent a district largely made up of them.  

In 2013, the City Planning Department reported the Washington Heights section of Manhattan has around 80,000 residents who were born outside of the U.S., and 9,000 in Marble Hill, most of which come from Latin American countries such as the Dominican Republic and Mexico. 

“I hope that my voice will resonate as an American who will not become heavy-handed or mean-spirited as other countries are around the world,” Mr. Espaillat said of his potential role in Congress. “One of the reasons the rest of the world looks up to America is that it has always been a nation of opportunities and one that allows for personal growth.”

He said he hopes to gear immigration discussion in the House towards helping, and not hurting, immigrants and providing opportunities for undocumented immigrants, especially those who came at a young age.

“To become mean-spirited or heavy-handed now to young people or working class people who just want to do better for their families and, in the process, strengthen America, I think is contrary to what the founding fathers thought this country should be,” he said. “So, you know, I hope to be that voice that will bring some level of reason in the debate and get some of the mean-spiritedness out of it.”