BEDFORD, N.Y. - Local members of Braver Angels met with Congressman Mike Lawler on May 9 at the Bedford Town House to discuss how common ground can be reached across the political spectrum, even on an issue as divisive as immigration.
Braver Angels is a national organization dedicated to reducing political polarization, lowering heated rhetoric, and fostering constructive dialogue. Lawler’s 17th District includes all of Halston Media’s distribution area. The meeting was organized by Don Scott, a Katonah resident and co-chair of Braver Angels’ Westchester County alliance, and moderated by Randy Freeman, a Somers resident and the organization’s New York State coordinator.
The meeting followed the Westchester alliance’s yearlong effort to seek common ground on immigration among both “Red” and “Blue” members. That work included several structured discussions requiring participants to listen respectfully, ask sincere questions to better understand opposing viewpoints, and ultimately identify shared values, concerns, and potential policy solutions.
The roundtable discussion with Lawler featured extensive back-and-forth dialogue. Members of Braver Angels learned that Lawler’s views on immigration span positions commonly associated with both sides of the political spectrum.
“My job is to serve all the interests of the district, and there are lots of disagreements within the district,” Lawler said.
He explained that his perspective is also shaped by personal experience. Lawler shared that his great-grandparents were immigrants and that his wife emigrated from Moldova 15 years ago. He proposed to her at the Statue of Liberty, and their 4-year-old daughter speaks both English and Romanian, Moldova’s official language.
Lawler stressed the importance of realism in shaping immigration policy. While much attention has focused on the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants who entered the country during the Biden administration, he noted there may be a similar number who entered the United States decades earlier.
He expressed concern for undocumented immigrants who have lived in the country for many years, remained law-abiding, built productive lives, and paid taxes.
Lawler summarized what he sees as seven key immigration policy priorities:
Securing the border
Establishing a legal immigration process
Vetting prospective immigrants
Eliminating sanctuary status for cities and states
Showing compassion for those fleeing hardship and persecution
Supporting assimilation programs
Expanding merit-based admission programs for professions such as medicine, nursing, engineering, hospitality, agriculture, and construction
Lawler also discussed his support for two immigration-related initiatives: the Dignity Act of 2025 and legislation extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitians.
The Dignity Act, which has not yet passed, focuses on four major areas: securing the border, implementing mandatory E-Verify protections for American jobs, creating a seven-year “Dignity Program” offering legal work status to law-abiding undocumented immigrants, and establishing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.
Lawler expressed especially strong support for Dreamers.
“These kids did not decide to come to the U.S. Someone else did,” he said. “When dealing with a child, we should have more compassion.”
The TPS extension bill passed the House of Representatives but has not yet passed the Senate. Lawler was one of only four Republicans to initially sign the discharge petition that forced the bill to the House floor against GOP leadership wishes. He was later among just nine Republicans who voted in favor of the bill’s passage.
While Lawler said that “there’s more bipartisanship than most people realize” among members of Congress, he also acknowledged Braver Angels’ frustration with Congress’ frequent inability to reach bipartisan agreements.
Referring to the stalled Dignity Act, he said both parties could support measures such as DACA protections and E-Verify requirements, but that ideological extremes on both sides often prevent compromise.
“Everyone wants unanimity, but that’s not going to happen,” Lawler said. “Consensus requires negotiation and compromise.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, Freeman told Lawler that Braver Angels groups across the country have engaged in similar common ground efforts on immigration. She said the national organization plans to synthesize those discussions into a nationwide common ground framework to share with Congress.
When asked for his reaction to the immigration common ground points developed by the Westchester alliance, Lawler said he agreed with all of them.
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