Vichal Kumar

Public Defender | 20 yrs fighting ICE
Congress | NY-07
From the fight, not from politics
Join👇

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

I’m Vichal Kumar. I’m running for Congress in NY-7 to Dismantle ICE, Empower Workers & Guarantee Healthcare. 

Resist. Reclaim. Reimagine.

Join us, https://t.co/2ePJhxY2hR

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

@MrAndersonDAW @stephmase22 @kshaughnessy2 Something’s not adding up, can we talk?

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

I created a short reel on IG about @NY1's decision to only include three of four candidates on the ballot for its NY-7 congressional debate tomorrow, when 43% of voters are still undecided.

I did not expect anyone to take up the mantle. Everyone should read this.
https://t.co/5H0qU57rkn

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

This is exactly why we need federal leadership. A FAIC would create oversight and transparency on AI developers. https://t.co/0uz1vDYRZp

[American Economic Liberties Project @econliberties]

Big Tech NDAs are hiding the true impacts of data center projects, concealing key details from communities.

In Roanoke, one local paper seeking more information on a data center project and its water usage received documents with those numbers redacted.

The reason? The water company had signed an NDA with Google.

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

@Ethanfracisco The same reason identity orgs often pick the same, proximity to power, credentials and platform aren’t a factor

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

Check out my interview in @Greenpointers, where I talk about:
➡️ one of my wins on the job as a public defender (thinking outside-the-box about how to meet communities' needs, i.e. providing access to tax services)
➡️addressing affordability (I've been having that conversation for 20+ years now)
➡️federal policies on housing (let's fund Section 8 already)
➡️the Monitor Point project (what we really need is more permanent affordable housing)
➡️supporting small businesses (we need the G train running, and to help lower rents, i.e. let's get rid of tax incentives for corporate landowners that leave commercial spaces empty)
➡️why I'm running for Congress right now.

In this environment where institutions and systems are being torn down on a regular basis, this is the moment where we can really reimagine what they’re going to look like for people.

https://t.co/PHAiUlV5w3

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

Small businesses are getting squeezed from every direction. Corporate conglomerates have captured the supply chain. Apps take a third of every restaurant order. Antitrust enforcement has collapsed. Commercial rent is unbearable. And on top of all of that, ICE is targeting immigrant business owners and their workers.

That's why I've released a federal roadmap that covers the different life stages for the small businesses that build our neighborhoods. 1. Starting, 2. surviving, and 3. passing it on.
👉🏾Check it out https://t.co/ScFBbKHk1H

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

Eid Mubarak!

To everyone in NY-7 and across our communities observing Eid al-Adha today, wishing you and your families peace, blessings, and time together.

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

@washingtonpost Enough of this, we need Congress to step up. I will!

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

USCIS just pulled one of the dirtiest moves I've seen.

They didn't change any law, just sent a memo. Telling officers to deny green card applications they would've approved a month ago.

No new statute. No Congress vote. Just a memo.

Doesn't matter if you're a nurse who's been here 8 years, on an H1B with kids born here or if you finally saved up for the filing fees on your spouse's case.

USCIS is telling you: walk away. Go home. Wait years.

This is what's happening when nobody in Congress is fighting back. Time for that to change.

[Homeland Security @DHSgov]

An alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply.

This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes.

The era of abusing our nation’s immigration system is over.

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

With five weeks to go, this race is being decided by the 43% of voters who are still listening. That's the majority. Voters in NY-7 right now don't need another politician promising things. They need a builder who's already done the work. Someone who's created the institutions, scaled the solutions, and shown up at kitchen tables when government failed.

I've been doing that for 20 years. We're meeting voters where they are, at their doors, on their subway platforms, in their faith communities, and at forums like the one last night in Sunnyside. Polls measure name recognition. Elections measure who shows up. We're running to earn every vote.

[Emerson College Polling @EmersonPolling]

NYC CONGRESSIONAL POLLS with @PIX11News

NY12
Micah Lasher 22%
Alex Bores 20%
Jack Schlossberg 11%
George Conway 10%
32% undecided

NY10
Brad Lander 57%
Dan Goldman 23%
20% undecided

NY07
Claire Valdez 23%
Antonio Reynoso 21%
Julie Won 13%
43% undecided

https://t.co/nlCvLpTcEE

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

Thank you! 🙏

[Raj Parikh @rajivdparikh]

Always cools when your friends do work and try to do the right thing. Proud of @kumar4ny for not just his advocacy and acumen, but willingness to take that experience to Congress to best represent his community.

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

In violation of a court order. I’ve been in these courtrooms, fighting with families. We cannot allow this to continue.

We must dismantle ICE now

[Peter Sterne @petersterne]

So ICE is just straight-up violating a federal court order. It's not the first time, but this does seem to be a particularly blatant example.

The obvious question is who can enforce the court order? I doubt U.S. marshals are going to arrest DHS agents. https://t.co/u5lqrDfPd8

[Peter Sterne @petersterne]

So ICE is just straight-up violating a federal court order. It's not the first time, but this does seem to be a particularly blatant example.

The obvious question is who can enforce the court order? I doubt U.S. marshals are going to arrest DHS agents. https://t.co/u5lqrDfPd8

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

A Bronx father of five is back with his family after a month of cross-state legal work. Real credit to @NYSenatorRivera, his team, and Hands Off NYC @durganyc for not letting up. Proud to have been one of the lawyers helping on the case. After 20 years as a public defender, I'm running for Congress to dismantle ICE. @NorwoodNews https://t.co/dH1cPtoMHT

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

Three people were killed at the Islamic Center of San Diego today in an apparent anti-Muslim assault. A security guard and two school staff members. In a place where families pray and children learn. My heart is with the victims, their families, and every Muslim and community member grieving tonight.

This must be investigated as a hate crime. There is no room for Islamophobia anywhere. All of our communities deserve to live, pray and learn without fear.

[CNN @CNN]

Three people were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, authorities said. Two apparent suspects were also found dead in a car near the scene, and police said they are considering the attack a hate crime at this time. https://t.co/D913Et2HyX

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

Grateful for @NYCMayor's swift response to protect NYC mosques tonight. The attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego on the first day of Dhul Hijjah is a tragedy. Islamophobia is real, rising, and must be confronted. Standing with our Muslim neighbors across the country.

[Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor]

I am horrified by the deadly attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, an apparent act of anti-Muslim violence.

Islamophobia endangers Muslim communities across this country. We must confront it directly and stand together against the politics of fear and division. My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and the entire community grieving this devastating attack.

The NYPD is increasing deployments to mosques across the city out of an abundance of caution. There are currently no known threats to NYC houses of worship.

[Vichal Kumar @kumar4ny]

@melofan544 @rajivdparikh @umichvoter @claireforny @bradlander @AlexBores @DarializaforNY Free Palestine. https://t.co/7ekFoa1BIq