Gov. Kathy Hochul must act to safeguard the dreams of our military families

During the tumultuous days of July 2008, my world collapsed. The remains of my son, U.S. Army Sgt. Alex Jimenez, were recovered after he had been kidnapped by Isis in 2007. I yearned to find solace in prayer, to alleviate the inconsolable sorrow of my loved ones and to swallow my own tears beneath a stoic façade.

As we received the news of my son’s disappearance, we found ourselves entrenched in a simultaneous unforeseen battle at home: keeping Alex’s wife, Yaderline, from getting deported. I wanted to give up many times. I wanted to shut down and escape. However, surrendering was not an option. The way our immigration system treated my family was not just an insult to Alex’s brave service, but also to Yaderlin's sacrifices as a military spouse.

With a simple stroke of a pen, Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to ensure this never happens again.

This year, in a landmark moment, both the New York State Senate and Assembly unanimously passed groundbreaking legislation that can create the Alex R. Jimenez New York State Military Immigrant Family Legacy Program. This first-of-its-kind proposal was championed by Assembly member Catalina Cruz, and state senators Nathalia Fernandez and Jacob Ashby. Once enacted, it will provide our active service members, veterans and their immediate family members with the crucial legal assistance and the resources needed to navigate our complex immigration system. The goal is to ultimately help them secure their legal immigration status, including U.S. citizenship. Its widespread bipartisan support is a testament to its importance.

The enactment of this bill would have provided our family with a critical lifeline during our time of turmoil. Imagine government officials dismantling bureaucratic barriers and fostering cooperation among federal immigration authorities, military leadership, and state government, this is the bare minimum commitment we owe to our service members and their families after all they have done for our country. That is the vision this bill represents. It’s especially critical for vulnerable military families like mine, who can’t possibly afford the legal counsel sometimes required to adjudicate complex immigration cases.

My son, Alex, made the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved. By signing this bill, we honor his legacy. It will show our nation that bipartisan immigration reform for service members is not a far-fetched dream, but an attainable reality. It sends a powerful message to military members and their immigrant families: that their aspirations are fundamentally American and that they are integral to our nation.

I appeal to you, Governor Hochul. As one mother to another, as a fellow New Yorker, as a fellow American filled with pride for our great nation: sign this bill. Let us show our military families that we stand by them, that we value their service, and will protect their American dream. This is the spirit of the Alex R. Jimenez Military Legacy Program — a spirit that we must champion.

Maria Duran's son, U.S. Army Sgt. Alex R. Jimenez, was killed in 2007.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Gov. Kathy Hochul: Enact Alex Jimenez Immigrant Family Legacy Program