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“The inclusion of these protections is not just a necessity for economic recovery, it is a matter of economic and racial justice for the communities that have been most vulnerable to the crisis and that have been left behind in the previous relief programs, ”they added.
The Biden administration and Capitol Hill Democrats have said passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill is a priority for them. But they recognized that the the main goal is progressso they are open to moving parts of reform through Congress in a piecemeal fashion at the same time as they push for a big bill. Immigrant advocates have supported the idea of having multiple avenues for immigration reform.
“It doesn’t mean that we are not going to fight for [a pathway to citizenship for] 11 million, that we are not going to fight to restructure our immigration system. This means that members of Congress understand that right now, just like us, that promise must be delivered with action… and real action right now is to legalize essential workers as part of the economic recovery, ”said Lorella. Praeli, president of Community Change Action, a progressive grassroots group and co-chair of the We Are Home campaign, a national campaign for immigrant justice.
More than 100 advocacy groups involved in the We Are Home campaign have urged lawmakers to push for the inclusion of legal protections in the Covid relief program. It remains to be seen whether Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will agree to include him if they go through the reconciliation process.
The path to citizenship would apply to around five million undocumented immigrants who are essential workers. Including protections for essential workers is part of ensuring that “our country gets back on track as quickly as possible,” said CHC president Raul Ruiz (D-California).
Meanwhile, Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), former chairman of the CHC, is working on a stand-alone bill that would allow essential undocumented workers to apply for permanent resident status. Under the bill, these workers would have the right to apply for citizenship in five years.
Castro said on Saturday he was “optimistic that this priority for the Congressional Hispanic caucus will be included in the COVID relief package.”
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