The recent collapse of a border deal in Congress, coupled with U.S.

Senator Bob Menendez, is uncertain.

Political future has immigration advocates worried about an overall lack of Latino representation for New Jersey and whether the nation will lose one of its fiercest champions for the immigrant community long before his federal corruption charges.

Menendez made history as the first Latino member of Congress from the Garden State.

Few could rival his institutional knowledge on immigration policy.

Menendez still hasn't declared whether he's officially running for reelection, but a senior political correspondent David Cruz, reports.

There's a lot of back room chatter about ensuring a successor is just as strong on the issue.

Say what you will about Senator Bob Menendez.

And nowadays, there's lots to say, but there are few lawmakers in the deep water of immigration reform as Menendez.

That's him back in 2013 when the so-called Gang of Eight vainly tried comprehensive immigration reform.

He's remained the leading voice haranguing every president since, including the current one.

We're giving them a white paper that basically speaks to a whole host of better options to control the border and deal with these issues.

And I hope the president takes those options, because if not, he risks becoming the asylum denier in chief.

Let's see one of the leading Democrats for Senate be that sharp.

And that's the point that some immigration advocates are making about losing Menendez one way or another as a voice for Latinos and for immigration reform in particular.

Senator Menendez has been a staunch advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.

He's one of the earliest vocal opponents of detention centers in the state.

He's advocated for the extension designation of TPS.

He hasn't been shy about criticizing the Biden administration about Title 42.

Now they are Morsi of make the road.

New Jersey, says Menendez was unafraid to tackle the complexities of the immigration issue, which is something that State Senator Teresa Ruiz says comes from the lived experience.

It was something she called for in the earliest days of the Menendez scandal when many were calling for him to be replaced.

A Latino centered person, someone who understands the community, someone who captures the voice.

It is.

It is.

To me, that is the primary focus.

There is no vacancy currently currently right now.

But when there is one, Latinos in the state have to be loud and proud about who we want representing us.

Ruiz isn't backing anyone in the Senate primary, but Patricia Campos medina takes her point as a rationale for her own Senate candidacy.

I worked with Senator Menendez on some of the stuff that he did around the gang of Eight when we were trying to figure out what was a comprehensive immigration reform.

We have we figured out how to protect workers in their workplaces.

So I am ready because I understand the minutia of the policy solution.

But Campos medina is polling in single digits.

Like it or not, Democrats are likely getting either Murphy or Kim, and neither has overwhelmed advocates on the issue so far.

We have yet to see any strong immigration proposals around comprehensive immigration reform from leading candidates and become or Murphy.

I think that's one of the biggest things that set the work of Senator Menendez.

So far apart about his his advocacy around a comprehensive immigration.

Reform activist, Hector Oseguera says.

You can't expect someone who is Latino to order magically have the best answers just because they're Latino.

A senator could be the greatest person when it comes to the issue of immigration.

But if you're uncomfortable standing next to that person because they have underlying corruption issues or some other very bad policy stances, it may undercut the value that they bring to the table in terms of the issue of immigration.

Congress has decided that immigration reform is off the table for now.

Again, and getting it back into the front of the line of priorities has rarely seemed more difficult.

And for many, that makes this hurt even more.

I'm David Cruz NJ Spotlight News.