‘We can’t stop trying’: Latino lawmaker pushing for reform of Trump’s immigration policies

There are 53 days until the new members. of Congress officially take their oaths. of office. But this morning, a number of them are. already getting to work, joining with business group leaders to push. against Trump's aggressive deportation agenda. and to call for work permits and legal status. for long-term law-abiding migrants in America. Here's just some of what they had to say. this this morning. Latinos are giving Democrats a chance. to earn the Latino vote again, and somebody has to start with us pushing hard on. immigration reform.

That includes potentially cutting a deal. with Donald Trump. It's dreamers, it's TPS, and it's DED. So it's a lot of people that have been. in this country for years, followed the rules, and deserve the protections that they need. Whoever wants to get our support in 28, has to prioritize immigration reform. Yes! That final speaker was Democratic. congressman-elect Bobby Pulido. from the great state of Texas. He joins us now. Congressman-elect, welcome.

Thank you so much for being with us. A busy week for you. Talk to me both about why these reforms are so. critical. and whether or not you think. there's actually an opportunity to work. with Republicans here? Well, we know there's an opportunity. because on many occasions the president. has actually mentioned the idea. of wanting to come to a solution. So there's other times he does. something the exact opposite, but we cannot, you know, just be down on it.

We have to really work hard and put a good legislation. before his desk. Now, look, we understand that we don't. want to go. back to the way the border policy was. under the Biden administration. We know that that was not the right way. to do things, and we need serious reform. And like right now, it's just so, so sad in my district. Every day that I was campaigning, I was hearing stories of people just begging me, please. And you know, many mixed status families. where. this is affecting American citizens more. than people realize.

You flipped a South Texas district. I want to play for you what a builder. in McAllen who voted for Trump back. in 2024 just told my colleague Rosa Flores. It's just unfair. That's it. It's very unfair to the immigrant. to the mexican-american that's. just trying to work and it doesn't even have to. be. mexican-american it's it's just. the hispanic the latino the hard. working i see him every day i see. him cutting yards cleaning homes. i'm sorry it's painful not just.

in construction uh and and i know a lot. of these folks that have kids. the moms are afraid to go drop off the kid. at school, God forbid, or take him to soccer practice. To get stopped and questioned and deported. or sent to detention centers. Listen, constituents like that understand. that this policy is cruel, that it has been bad for BUSINESS, YOUR SENSE OF A TIMELINE HERE, HOW QUICKLY DO YOU THINK WE COULD. ACTUALLY SEE SOME TYPE OF RELIEF OR SOME TYPE.

OF REFORM? THERE'S ALREADY THE DREAM, THE DIGNITY ACT THAT'S. THERE IS ALREADY LEGISLATION IN PLACE. THAT WE CAN GET BEHIND. OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO GET IN THE. DETAILS AND I DON'T GET SWORN IN UNTIL JANUARY. 3rd BUT WE CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND. REALLY TRY TO GET A BILL TO THE SENATE AND. THEN HOPEFULLY GET IT ON THE PRESIDENT'S DESK. NOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD BECAUSE HE'S GOT.

STEPHEN. MILLER WHO'S THE ARCHITECT OF ALL. THESE MASS DEPORTATIONS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, HE'S RIGHT THERE AT THE RIGHT HAND. OF THE PRESIDENT. SO WE KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE. IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE, BUT WE CAN'T STOP TRYING. WHILE WE HAVE YOU, YOU'RE UP FOR YOUR THIRD. LATIN GRAMMY TOMORROW. I HAVE TO ASK YOU, YOU. I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ANY GRAMMY WINNERS RIGHT NOW.

HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY MORE THOUGHT TO THAT OFFER? I'VE GOT A SEAT I mean, I got to see how we gel. together. But I miss music. I mean, I even put a karaoke system in my house. because I'm going to miss singing. But we'll see. First and most important thing is. TO GET TO WORK. SO, BUT THERE'S SOME, THERE'S SOME TALENT IN. THERE. WE'LL SEE HOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY TOLD ME, HEY, WE'RE AMATEURS, BUT, HEY, IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE WANT TO HAVE FUN ON OUR OFF TIME. I APPRECIATE THAT THEY THEY WERE WILLING TO.

SHOOT THEIR SHOT. TEXAS CONGRESSMAN ELECT BOBBY POLITO, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR, FOR YOUR TIME.