Election Facts
Length of Time in Office
- 10th Term
- First Elected 1990
Committees: Appropriations (Chair of Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee), Homeland Security
2008 Congressional Election
- Jose Serrano (D-WFP) 127,179
- Ali Mohamed (R) 4,488
2008 Presidential Election
- Obama 158,671
- McCain 8,437
District Demographics
- Hispanic 65.3%%
- Asian 1.8%
- Black 28.5%
- White 2.3%
Report Card
The heart of the Sixteenth Congressional District is in the South Bronx. Once a part of the city abandoned by the rest of the country, the area was revitalized over the last two decades by large influxes of immigrants from Honduras, the Dominican Republic, the Andean and Central American countries, Jamaica, and elsewhere. The district also includes Mott Haven, Belmont, and parts of Hunts Point and Bruckner Boulevard.
Over the last decade, the Sixteenth was the second most Democratic district in the country and the most heavily Latino district in New York State. Voter participation has been increasing in the district, with a 15% rise in votes cast in 2008 over the 2004 presidential election. Enthusiasm for Barack Obama and increased naturalizations of immigrants have been credited for the rise.
Jose Serrano is a very outspoken advocate for immigrants in his district and for the foreign-born and their children nationally. He has a stellar record on immigration and, as a growing power within the Democratic caucus, he is a strong ally of Nydia Velazquez and Luis Gutierrez in the fight for immigration reform.
In 2010, Serrano also played a major role in highlighting the discriminatory nature of Arizona’s anti-immigrant law, SB 1070. As the Congressman representing the New York Yankees, Serrano called on Major League Baseball to move the 2011 All Star Game out of Phoenix. He participated in rallies and protests against the now on-hold legislation.
Serrano is a sponsor of the DREAM Act and the Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP bill introduced by Luis Gutierrez.
Voting Record
Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border Reference: Secure Fence Act; Bill H R 6061 ; vote number 2006-446 on Sep 14, 2006 Took the PRO-Immigrant Position.
Voted NO on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project. Reference: Department of Homeland Security appropriations; Bill HR 5441 Amendment 968 ; vote number 2006-224 on Jun 6, 2006. Took the PRO-Immigrant Position.
Voted NO on reporting undocumented immigrants who receive hospital treatment. Reference: Undocumented Alien Emergency Medical Assistance Amendments; Bill HR 3722 ; vote number 2004-182 on May 20, 2004. Took the PRO-Immigrant Position.
Voted YES on extending Immigrant Residency rules. Reference: Motion sponsored by Gekas, R-PA; Bill HR1885 ; vote number 2001-127 on May 21, 2001. Took the PRO-Immigrant Position.
Contact Jose Serrano:
WASHINGTON OFFICE
2227 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3216
(202) 225-4361
Fax: (202) 225-6001
BRONX OFFICE
1231 Lafayette Ave, 4th Floor
Bronx, NY, 10474
(718) 620-0084
Fax: (718) 620-0658
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