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We Are Home Campaign: Democrats Must Include a Pathway to Citizenship to Build Back Better

Essential workers, TPS and DACA recipients are critical to the recovery of our economy  

Washington, DC — Today, the We Are Home coalition released a statement reiterating the need for President Biden, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer to include a pathway to citizenship for immigrant young people, TPS holders, essential workers and their family members in the American Jobs Plan and overall Build Back Better package.

“Immigrants helped build America, and are a critical part of our nation’s recovery and economic future. The only way we can truly Build Back Better is to ensure immigrant communities are part of any recovery package.

“We look forward to working with President Biden, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer to ensure a pathway to citizenship for immigrant essential workers and their families, Dreamers, and TPS holders is included in the upcoming Build Back Better legislation.

“Policies to provide a pathway to citizenship to essential workers and their families, Dreamers, and TPS holders are inextricably linked to America’s recovery. With permanent legal status and a path to citizenship, these immigrants would help produce increased wages and productivity throughout the U.S. economy, more jobs, additional tax revenue, stronger worker protections for immigrant and native workers alike, and would lift many families out of poverty.

“These measures have overwhelming bipartisan support with the American people and we urge President Biden, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to use all necessary legislative tools to include in the economic recovery legislation permanent protection and a path to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers and their families.

“Today, there are an estimated 5 million undocumented immigrants in the country’s essential workforce who risk their lives and the lives of their families every day to keep the country running. Providing a path to citizenship for these individuals and their families recognizes not only 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 comeback.”

Rocio Saenz, SEIU Executive Vice President said, “President Biden’s American Jobs Plan will be a gamechanger, transforming the lives of millions of essential home care workers and their families, many of whom are immigrant women. This $400 billion investment is a historic step forward for the home care workers across the nation who have come together and fought for a better future for decades. These workers have always been essential, regardless of their immigration status, and we can’t forget that part of honoring them is respecting them. We still must create a path to citizenship for all immigrants, who are essential and have been there for us long before the pandemic and will be there for us in the future.”

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