For Immediate Release: August 12, 2021

Contact: press@wearehome.us

On the Heels of a Historic Senate Breakthrough the “We Are Home” Coalition Launches Immigration State Summits in Key States

Summits will be in held AZ, MI, NV, ME and NH and run through Congressional recess

Washington, DC- During the August congressional recess, the “We Are Home” Campaign will be hosting four immigration summits in key states for its next push to ensure that citizenship for millions of Dreamers, TPS recipients, farmworkers and essential workers is passed by the Congress this year through budget reconciliation.

The summits will bring together leaders, electeds, and activists to organize and strategize in these important states and ensure that we win citizenship this year. The state summits will also create an opportunity to build We Are Home’s work with other progressive partners to interconnect on issues that affect our communities.

 Bridgette Gomez, Campaign Director for the We Are Home campaign said: 

“The We Are Home Campaign is excited to build on the momentum around citizenship for millions by hosting these critical state summits. We will use these spaces to ensure that our community is empowered to push Democrats to use every tool they have to finally do right by our country and provide a path to citizenship to young immigrants, TPS holders, farmworkers, and essential workers. Republicans have continually shown that they are not operating in good faith or interested in solutions, so now Democrats must step up on an issue that is popular with the majority of Americans.

“We will take our message across the country: The political moment for citizenship is now. No more delays. No more excuses. It’s been 35 years since the last meaningful pathways to citizenship legislation in Congress. And after four years of continuous and relentless attacks on undocumented communities – even while they played instrumental roles in keeping the country alive and moving during a global pandemic – it’s time to act. There is no moral and economic recovery without including immigrants.”

Alicia Contreras, Executive Director of CORAZON AZ said:

 “Our immigration system has been unjust and rooted in white supremacy for decades, and Arizonans have walked through those fires together. Arizona’s We Are Home Summit is a testament to the investment that activated and planted the seeds for this critical moment over eleven years ago. It is not by chance or coincidence that the students and volunteers trained alongside one another in 2009 are now the organizational and community leaders teaching the next generation. Citizenship for our loved ones- families including essential workers, DACA recipients, TPS holders, farmworkers will be transformative to Arizona. Our community deserves to thrive and not simply survive, and we know this to be true. Legalization is long overdue, and we need Congress to pass a pathway to citizenship now. Our community is ready.”

Mohamed Ibrahim, Organizer- Maine People’s Alliance also added:

“I am glad to be working side by side with Essential immigrant workers, DACA recipients in Maine to reach out to our MOCs to stand up for us in this ongoing reconciliation process. Our state representative should champion and be the leading force to make this historical change in our broken immigration system which makes many families in Maine suffer for decades.”

Adonis Flores, Immigrant Rights Director for Michigan United issued the following statement:

 “Citizenship for essential workers, TPS holders, undocumented youth, and farmworkers is an integral component of the human infrastructure package Democrats are preparing to enact this year. The time is now to take action on immigration, climate, and jobs, and there is a movement of immigrant, labor, faith, and progressive organizations in Michigan that will continue urging Senator Peter and Senator Stabenow to stand with working families and pass these priorities through budget reconciliation, and ready to hold them accountable.”

Leo Murrieta, Executive Director for Make the Road Nevada said:

“Our families deserve to live with dignity and respect. During the pandemic, DACA recipients, TPS holders, and undocumented farmworkers have worked hard and risked their lives to provide essential care and services at the frontlines of this pandemic, all while continuing to face endless threats of deportation and separation from their families. We need our families to be able to focus on what really matters, like their health, education, and being able to live at peace. Now is the time for our friends and immigrant allies in Congress as well as the Biden Administration to use every means possible to create a path to citizenship for DACA recipients, TPS holders, and essential workers.”

Laura Martin, Executive Director, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada issues the following statement:

“Nevada’s immigrant families who have played such a pivotal role – risking their lives as essential workers – during the pandemic deserve a path to citizenship. A reconciliation bill that includes citizenship for undocumented youth, TPS holders, farm workers and other essential workers will boost economic growth, create jobs and increase wages for all Nevadans. Now is the time our members of congress can recognize the heroic contributions of immigrant workers by including all workers and families in the recovery.”

Rev. Sarah Rockwell, President of the Granite State Organizing Project said:

“A pathway to citizenship for essential workers, farmworkers, DACA recipients and TPS holders is the right thing to do and in truth, it is overdue. Immigrant workers are an important part of our care infrastructure and are critical to meeting Granite State’s shortage of workers. Essential immigrant workers matter to New Hampshire. Far beyond their contributions to our workforce, they are people of faith and vital members of our community. They are our neighbors, our friends, parents of our children’s schoolmates, and, most importantly, they are Granite Stators. Our community could not muster through this pandemic without their work and support.”

We Are Home is a nationwide campaign to fight for immigrant communities on three fronts: prioritizing and demanding a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in America; a moratorium and overhaul of interior enforcement; and broad affirmative relief from deportation. We Are Home is co-chaired by Community Change/Community Change Action; National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA)/Care in Action; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); United Farm Workers/UFW Foundation; and United We Dream.

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