LIVE STREAMING
Pictured: New Hampshire State Rep. Maria Perez in an immigration rally.
The Salvadorian Rep. did not mince her words when addressing Sen. Hassan on her shaky agenda. Photo: Twitter- State Rep Maria Perez

Latina State Rep in New Hampshire slams Senator for supporting anti-immigration legislation

NH Senator Maggie Hassan voted in favor of Republican-led amendments that would’ve expanded Title 42 provisions.

MORE IN THIS SECTION

Hispanic Heritage Month

Latinas in Key Roles

GIFFORDS New VP

Treating Mental Health

RIP Sheila Oliver

Two Latina Confirmations

A Return for Flores?

SHARE THIS CONTENT:

“How many more times are you going to damage our community?” was one of the questions New Hampshire State Rep María Perez posed to Sen. Hassan on Twitter after she voted in favor of provisions that sought to expand Title 42 Provisions as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed the Senate over the weekend. 

Perez is the co-chair of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and a regional organizer for Sen. Amy Klobuchar. 

State Rep. Perez took to Twitter on Tuesday, Aug. 9, and in a heartfelt one-minute video, criticized Hassan after her name was a part of a list of six Democratic Senators who joined Republicans in a vote-a-rama to sabotage a landmark bill for the Biden administration. 

Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Maggie Hassan (NH), Mark Kelly (AZ), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), and Raphael Warnock (GA) all voted for the measure, and face major Republican challenges in upcoming elections. 

“Senator Hassan, how many more times are you going to slap us across the face? How many more times are you going to ask for our support in November?” Perez said in her video.

“Why would you alienate the base of immigrants who need a champion in this moment? You need every vote! Vulnerable Democrats in the early hours of Sunday sought cover on preserving Title 42, the Trump-era health order that prevents migrants from entering the country on asylum,” Perez wrote in a follow-up thread. 

Last week, Congress negotiated the Inflation Reduction Act during an all-or-nothing legislative session that went overnight. As a last resort to sabotage an already delicate bill, Republicans introduced last-minute amendments in an attempt to divide Democrats and kill the measure. Some of them, like the one Perez addressed, were detrimental to immigrants. 

The bill on the whole had support from no Republicans, meaning Democrats needed to band together on all issues to get it to the President’s desk successfully. 

Democratic Sens. Bob Menéndez and Alex Padilla coalesced their caucuses, warning them not to vote in favor. In a vote-a-rama, an even split is enough to get amendments passed. 

“The way to slay that Inflation Reduction Act is to have extraneous provisions adopted, including immigration provisions,” Menéndez told MSNBC.

Though the Republican strategy failed, Democratic Senators quickly took center stage by joining the list of members of Congress who voted in favor of the proposed amendments. 

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who at the time did not say how she’d vote on Title 42 provisions, was also rumored to back the amendments. In the past, Sinema has advocated for increased funding at the border.

She ultimately voted in favor of the Title 42 expansion. 

“Give us your reasoning behind voting to allow title 42 expulsions,” Rep. Perez went on to say. “I’m angry and frustrated,” she added. 

Although Sen. Hassan made celebratorily remarks on social media, she did not directly address her involvement in trying to get the amendments passed. 

AL DÍA has reached out to Perez for comment.

  • LEAVE A COMMENT:

  • Join the discussion! Leave a comment.

  • or
  • REGISTER
  • to comment.
  • LEAVE A COMMENT:

  • Join the discussion! Leave a comment.

  • or
  • REGISTER
  • to comment.
00:00 / 00:00
Ads destiny link