Sen. Jon Ossoff Hires Pro-Open Borders Adviser Ahead of Government Vote

Senator Jon Ossoff from Georgia has appointed Katie Shepherd, an advocate for open borders, as a senior adviser just before a crucial vote that could lead to a government shutdown. This move comes as Democrats are continuing their push to extend health care services to undocumented immigrants.

Shepherd, known for her pro-immigration stance, has joined Ossoff’s team ahead of a vote that is pivotal to the Democratic agenda, particularly regarding the closure of government offices at the end of September.

Notably, Representative Ro Khanna and other Democratic colleagues have openly recognized that a government shutdown would facilitate access for undocumented immigrants to taxpayer-funded health care benefits.

Shepherd’s history aligns with Ossoff’s in opposing stricter immigration laws. She previously worked with the American Immigration Council, a group that champions open-border policies.

Before her current role with Ossoff, she was involved with the Department of Homeland Security, focusing on civil rights and civil liberties, where she investigated incidents of abuse within immigrant detention facilities.

Shepherd has been an advocate for community-based care options over traditional detention systems. In past discussions, she highlighted the need for alternatives to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainment, emphasizing that supporting immigrants through community organizations leads to better outcomes.

In comments from 2021, she expressed optimism for the Biden administration’s intentions to reverse stringent policies from the previous administration, believing that some changes could be enacted swiftly while others might take more time due to regulatory complexities.

Overall, with this new hire, Ossoff appears to be doubling down on his commitment to reforming immigration policy, aligning closely with leaders advocating for expanded rights and services for immigrants in the U.S.