After 9/11, I had just become an American citizen, and I remember sitting in front of my TV set watching the news of the attacks, in tears. I remember thinking to myself, 'Nothing is ever going to be the same in this country for people who look like me.'

If someone tells me that something can't be done, that makes me more determined to do it.

There isn't really precedent for asylum seekers' being criminally prosecuted at the border before they've had a 'credible fear' hearing. You come seeking asylum. Seeking asylum is not illegal.

There isn't really precedent for asylum seekers' being criminally prosecuted at the border before they've had a 'credible fear' hearing. You come seeking asylum. Seeking asylum is not illegal.

Ripping children away from their parents has a particular shameful history, both in this country and around the world.

Ripping children away from their parents has a particular shameful history, both in this country and around the world.

We are a country that has always been known for providing opportunities to people. We have lost a lot of that opportunity.

We are a country that has always been known for providing opportunities to people. We have lost a lot of that opportunity.

We have to have a planet to pass on to the next generation, and these issues of climate change and climate justice and the disproportionate burdens that communities of color actually bear from our damaging climate is a huge issue.

We have to have a planet to pass on to the next generation, and these issues of climate change and climate justice and the disproportionate burdens that communities of color actually bear from our damaging climate is a huge issue.

Fundamentally, I've always been a fan of actually looking at our whole state tax system and really figuring out how we reform our tax system so that everyone's paying their fair share but we don't have a lot of nickel and diming with 100 taxes that end up hitting people that maybe can't bear it the most.

Fundamentally, I've always been a fan of actually looking at our whole state tax system and really figuring out how we reform our tax system so that everyone's paying their fair share but we don't have a lot of nickel and diming with 100 taxes that end up hitting people that maybe can't bear it the most.

As difficult as my story is, it's nothing compared to the people I've worked with. And so I just want to do everything I can to make sure that America continues to be a land of opportunity and hope for people and refuge for people from all over the world.

As difficult as my story is, it's nothing compared to the people I've worked with. And so I just want to do everything I can to make sure that America continues to be a land of opportunity and hope for people and refuge for people from all over the world.

I feel like young people, more than anyone in the country, always have their moral compass on perfectly straight.

I feel like young people, more than anyone in the country, always have their moral compass on perfectly straight.

This is the country that we are turning over to young people, and there is going to be no country left at this rate because Trump is destroying the soul of who we are.

This is the country that we are turning over to young people, and there is going to be no country left at this rate because Trump is destroying the soul of who we are.

What Republicans so cynically refer to as 'chain migration' is actually family-based immigration - a humane and compassionate policy of reunifying families. It allows spouses to be together, siblings to support each other, and children to be with their parents. It allows the immigrants who are already here to be successful.

What Republicans so cynically refer to as 'chain migration' is actually family-based immigration - a humane and compassionate policy of reunifying families. It allows spouses to be together, siblings to support each other, and children to be with their parents. It allows the immigrants who are already here to be successful.

It took me 17 years to become a U.S. citizen.

It took me 17 years to become a U.S. citizen.

If there is one thing that resonates for women, it is that regardless of where we come from or what we look like, we want to be fully recognized for the breadth of our contributions.

If there is one thing that resonates for women, it is that regardless of where we come from or what we look like, we want to be fully recognized for the breadth of our contributions.

For immigrant women, fighting for some of the standard platforms of the women's movement may feel unthinkable when deportation is staring you in the face every day.

For immigrant women, fighting for some of the standard platforms of the women's movement may feel unthinkable when deportation is staring you in the face every day.

Before running for the Washington State Senate in 2014, I had spent 20 years as an activist. I had always believed that we needed to push for change on the outside, through community organizing and advocacy.

Before running for the Washington State Senate in 2014, I had spent 20 years as an activist. I had always believed that we needed to push for change on the outside, through community organizing and advocacy.

We don't get a more responsive government unless we start to systematically run organizing campaigns to change the way government works.

We don't get a more responsive government unless we start to systematically run organizing campaigns to change the way government works.

I love my district, the 37th Legislative District in Washington State, where I have lived for more than 20 years.

I love my district, the 37th Legislative District in Washington State, where I have lived for more than 20 years.

OneAmerica worked over the course of a decade to bring the movement of immigrants and communities of color together with the movement for marriage equality in Washington.

OneAmerica worked over the course of a decade to bring the movement of immigrants and communities of color together with the movement for marriage equality in Washington.

We need to incentivize states across our country to spend on higher education and ensure that we go back to allowing people to go to college tuition-free.

We need to incentivize states across our country to spend on higher education and ensure that we go back to allowing people to go to college tuition-free.

Profiting from student loans is usury, and we just can't continue to allow it.

Profiting from student loans is usury, and we just can't continue to allow it.

There's nothing normal about graduating with massive student debt, where you live in fear of predatory debt collectors and wage garnishers even as you are starting to live your life.

There's nothing normal about graduating with massive student debt, where you live in fear of predatory debt collectors and wage garnishers even as you are starting to live your life.

I come from a state in India that is a matrilineal state, Kerala. And so women really are seen as very powerful.

I come from a state in India that is a matrilineal state, Kerala. And so women really are seen as very powerful.

I'm not a complainer. I'm a doer. So if I see something is wrong, then I feel like I have to get in there and try to fix it.

I'm not a complainer. I'm a doer. So if I see something is wrong, then I feel like I have to get in there and try to fix it.

I have a little yoga ritual that I do just to move my body around. Whatever I do, it's usually very fast because often I don't have the kind of time that I would like to.

I have a little yoga ritual that I do just to move my body around. Whatever I do, it's usually very fast because often I don't have the kind of time that I would like to.

As an immigrant, I have lived, in a way, the American dream, and I want to make sure that opportunity is available for everybody.

As an immigrant, I have lived, in a way, the American dream, and I want to make sure that opportunity is available for everybody.

Policy is about real people and real stories, and sometimes we forget that.

Policy is about real people and real stories, and sometimes we forget that.