New Jersey’s Rep. Mejia Pushes $25 Federal Minimum Wage, ICE Abolition as She Prepares for June Primary
Why It Matters
New Jersey’s newest member of Congress is wasting little time advancing a far-left economic agenda that would dramatically expand the federal government’s role in wage-setting and reshape the nation’s immigration enforcement structure. Rep. Analilia Mejia’s push for a $25 federal minimum wage — well above current levels — would affect employers and workers across all 50 states, with potentially significant consequences for small businesses already managing tight margins.
Mejia’s call to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement adds to a growing chorus on the radical left that would dismantle the agency responsible for interior enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws.
What Happened
Mejia, a newly sworn member of Congress representing New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, outlined her legislative priorities in remarks reported by NJ Spotlight News on May 1, 2026. The congresswoman said she is “hitting the ground running” on economic and immigration issues following her April special election victory.
Mejia won the special election to complete the remaining term of Democrat Mikie Sherrill, who resigned in November 2025 after being elected New Jersey’s governor. Mejia is a former leader of the New Jersey Working Families Party and previously served as a top aide to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
In addition to a $25 minimum wage and ICE abolition, Mejia has also called for Medicare for All — a government-run, single-payer health care system that would eliminate private insurance for millions of Americans. She also announced she will continue rejecting contributions from corporate political action committees. The federal health care landscape is already shifting, with approximately 14% of Americans dropping discount health plans following the loss of federal subsidies.
By the Numbers
$25 per hour — the federal minimum wage Mejia is advocating for, which she describes as a phase-in proposal intended to balance worker and small-business needs.
$15 per hour — New Jersey’s current minimum wage, which Mejia cited as evidence that higher pay floors can coexist with economic activity.
1 — the number of seats Mejia’s special election victory added to the House Democratic caucus, which her previous campaign noted made the majority “very close.”
1 — committee assignment Mejia currently holds: the House Homeland Security Committee, a platform from which she is advancing her immigration enforcement positions.
June 2026 — the target date for a Democratic primary that will determine who faces Republican Joe Hathaway and independent candidates in the general election for a full two-year term beginning in January.
Zoom Out
Mejia’s policy platform mirrors a broader movement within the Democratic Party’s progressive wing. Calls to abolish ICE have circulated among far-left lawmakers since at least 2018, and proposals for a $25 minimum wage — well above the federal floor — have gained traction in certain urban districts even as economists debate their impact on employment in lower-cost regions.
The push for Medicare for All remains a defining fault line within the Democratic Party, with moderate members resisting the sweeping government takeover of the health insurance market. Meanwhile, New Jersey’s congressional delegation has faced its own scrutiny in recent months, with questions swirling around the state’s other representatives.
Nationally, immigration enforcement remains a central policy debate, with the Trump administration having moved aggressively to restore and expand interior enforcement operations since January 2025.
What’s Next
Mejia faces a June Democratic primary to secure the party’s nomination for the full two-year term representing New Jersey’s 11th District. The primary winner will then face Republican Joe Hathaway and independent candidates in the general election for a term beginning in January 2027.
In the near term, her positions on the House Homeland Security Committee will give her a platform to advance — or obstruct — immigration enforcement legislation. She has indicated she would not support funding measures that include ICE in its current form, though she said any alternative structure must ensure transparency and accountability.
Her $25 minimum wage proposal has not advanced to a floor vote, and with the current congressional majority, broad passage of such a measure faces significant obstacles.