BY: SOPHIE NIETO-MUNOZ

Soon after Bob Menendez joined Congress in 1993, he earned a reputation as a leading voice for Latinos.

Menendez, a former mayor of Union City in Hudson County and the son of Cuban immigrants, was lauded for his constituent services, with his office aiding people through the citizenship process and helping them secure working papers. He joined the bipartisan “gang of eight” to push for major immigration reform, and often bucked his own party on issues related to undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers.

He’s revered by the Latino community in Hudson County, where he returned to host massive parades and heritage events attended by thousands. He spoke to voters in English and Spanish, instilling a sense of pride in Hispanics who saw themselves represented on the national stage.

“He’s always been a real champion for immigrants,” said Kevin Brown, executive vice president of the 32BJ Service Employees International Union, which represents thousands of Latino workers. “He played that role, and things have changed recently in terms of his position, but that was a historic function of his. We very much appreciated it.”