Over 80 Mayors Across 28 States Urge White House and Congressional Leaders to Deliver Citizenship Via Budget Reconciliation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 26, 2021

Contact: press@wearehome.us

Over 80 Mayors Across 28 States Urge White House and Congressional Leaders to Deliver Citizenship Via Budget Reconciliation

Mayors Send Letter to President Biden, VP Harris, Majority Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi to Pass Citizenship for Immigrant Families

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, 84 mayors across 28 states sent a letter to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Majority Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi calling for pathways to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, essential workers, and their families via budget reconciliation.

2021 is the year to deliver citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, farm workers and essential workers and their families who stepped up to support the country throughout the pandemic while contributing to local economies. The latest federal ruling against Dreamers underscores the urgency to deliver a path to citizenship for Dreamers and immigrant workers via budget reconciliation.

From Houston, TX to Scranton, PA, mayors representing some of the largest to emerging economies in the country are speaking out this week to move the momentum forward for citizenship. According a recent study by the Center for American Progress and UC Davis Global Migration Center, providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farm workers, and essential workers would boost GDP by a cumulative total of $1.5 trillion over 10 years, create over 400,000 new jobs, and increase wages for all American workers by $600. Undocumented immigrants would also contribute an added $149 billion of spending power each year if they were U.S. citizens. This added income could result in an additional $39 billion in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes each year.

Voters across the political spectrum support creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. An overwhelming majority of Americans support providing a pathway to citizenship to undocumented immigrants over deporting them (79% to 21%). That includes base Republicans who prefer citizenship over deportation by a 61% to 39% margin.

Full text of the letter from 84 mayors:

Dear President Biden, Vice President Harris, Majority Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi:

We, the undersigned mayors, respectfully request that you prioritize the inclusion of a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, essential workers, and their families in any economic recovery legislation including through budget reconciliation.

Today, there are an estimated 5 million undocumented immigrants working in construction, agriculture, food services and production, transportation, healthcare, and other essential industries who have risked their lives and the lives of their families to keep our nation running during one of the most challenging periods in modern history.

As our state and local communities continue to confront a public health and economic catastrophe that has claimed more than 500,000 lives and exacerbated deep racial and economic inequities, it is vital that Congress enact protections for Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential immigrant workers to secure the health of our nation and to lay the foundation for an equitable economic recovery for all communities across the country.

Providing a path to citizenship for these individuals and their families not only recognizes the sacrifices they have made for all Americans over the past year, but also the important role they continue to play in America’s economic recovery and long-term global competitiveness.

It’s time for Congress to act. The only way we can truly Build Back Better is to ensure that Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers are included in any economic recovery legislation including through budget reconciliation.

Sincerely,

Mayor Randall L. Woodfin, Birmingham, Alabama

Mayor Regina Romero, Tucson, Arizona

Mayor Jesse Arreguin, Berkeley, California

Mayor Mary Casillas Salas, Chula Vista, California

Mayor Robert Garcia, Long Beach, California

Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles, California

Mayor Libby Schaaf, Oakland, California

Mayor Tom Butt, Richmond, California

Mayor Todd Gloria, San Diego, California

Mayor Sam Liccardo, San José, California

Mayor Mike Coffman, Aurora, Colorado

Mayor Sam Weaver, Boulder, Colorado

Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Denver, Colorado

Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc, East Hartford, Connecticut

Mayor Steve B. Wilson, Belle Glade, Florida

Mayor Tamara James, Dania Beach, Florida

Mayor Lauren Poe, Gainesville, Florida

Mayor Hazelle Rogers, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida

Mayor Ken Thurston, Lauderhill, Florida

Mayor Dan Gelber, Miami Beach, Florida

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County, Florida

Mayor Wayne M. Messam, Miramar, Florida

Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime, North Miami, Florida

Mayor Sally B. Philips, South Miami, Florida

Mayor Mike Ryan, Sunrise, Florida

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta, Georgia

Mayor Lauren McLean, Boise, Idaho

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Chicago, Illinois

Mayor Rick Sowers, Dodge City, Kansas

Mayor Greg Fischer, Louisville, Kentucky

Mayor Patrick Wojahn, College Park, Maryland

Mayor Jeffrey Slavin, Somerset, Maryland

Mayor Kate Stewart, Takoma Park, Maryland

Mayor Kim Janey, Boston, Massachusetts

Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer, Framingham, Massachusetts

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Somerville, Massachusetts

Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit, Michigan

Mayor Karen Majewski, Hamtramck, Michigan

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Mayor Kurt Metzger, Pleasant Ridge, Michigan

Mayor Jacob Frey, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mayor Melvin Carter, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, St. Louis, Missouri

Mayor Steven M. Fulop, Jersey City, New Jersey

Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Newark, New Jersey

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, Plainfield, New Jersey

Mayor Mark Freda, Princeton, New Jersey

Mayor Brian P. Stack, Union City, New Jersey

Mayor Timothy M. Keller, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Mayor Javier Perea, Sunland Park, New Mexico

Mayor Byron W. Brown, Buffalo, New York

Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York, New York

Mayor Lovely A. Warren, Rochester, New York

Mayor Esther Manheimer, Asheville, North Carolina

Mayor Rennie W. Brantz, Boone, North Carolina

Mayor Ian Baltutis, Burlington, North Carolina

Mayor Lydia Lavelle, Carrboro, North Carolina

Mayor Pam Hemminger, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Mayor Steve Schewel, Durham, North Carolina

Mayor Jennifer Weaver, Hillsborough, North Carolina

Mayor TJ Cawley, Town of Morrisville, North Carolina

Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, Raleigh, North Carolina

Mayor Emily Marburger, Bellevue, Pennsylvania

Mayor Timothy A. Scott, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Mayor Joseph Schember, Erie, Pennsylvania

Mayor James F. Kenney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mayor William Peduto, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Mayor Paige G. Cognetti, Scranton, Pennsylvania

Mayor Marita Garrett, Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania

Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, Providence, Rhode Island

Mayor Tim Kelly, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Mayor Jim Strickland, Memphis, Tennessee

Mayor John Cooper, Nashville, Tennessee

Mayor Steve Adler, Austin, Texas

Mayor Eric Johnson, Dallas, Texas

Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston, Texas

Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake City, Utah

Mayor Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake County, Utah

Mayor Levar Stoney, Richmond, Virginia

Mayor Cassie Franklin, Everett, Washington

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, Seattle, Washington

Mayor Victoria R. Woodards, Tacoma, Washington

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Madison, Wisconsin

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