Daliaza Avila Chevalier, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) in the Democratic primary, maintains her belief that deportations are fundamentally wrong. This includes even those illegal immigrants who have committed serious offenses, such as child molestation, murder, domestic abuse, and kidnapping.
Chevalier, endorsed by New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani (D), reiterated her stance during a podcast conversation with Vox Media’s Astead Herndon, emphasizing that deportation in all its forms is unacceptable.
“Yes, I still believe deportation is entirely wrong,” Chevalier affirmed.
Herndon prompted her, saying, “If you say all deportations are wrong, does that include individuals convicted of crimes in the U.S.?” He asked if it’s wrong to deport these individuals.
Chevalier replied that deportation could be seen as discriminatory, even for those with serious convictions.
“I say this because we have a penal system, which, while flawed, exists to address crime. If we’re addressing issues of harm, we need to ensure that discrimination based on birthplace doesn’t happen,” she explained. She added:
To penalize someone who has already faced a legal system—by subjecting them to immigration consequences—is problematic. People with criminal records face deportation, losing everything familiar, which is a form of punishment that isn’t tied to the crime because they’ve completed their sentences… This feels like a double punishment.
If we accept that double jeopardy is unconstitutional and contrary to our principles of equality, we cannot impose additional penalties based on someone’s place of birth.
In a campaign ad featuring Mamdani, the mayor praised Chevalier for her advocacy on behalf of undocumented immigrants, highlighting her efforts to “unite families separated by ICE,” among other initiatives.
Chevalier’s campaign also promises to work toward abolishing ICE, the agency within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for immigration enforcement across the country.
“This agency is focused on controlling our communities rather than ensuring our safety. It was established in 2002, and we can envision a future without it,” states her campaign website.
