Immigrant New Yorkers Demand Schumer Deliver On A Pathway To Citizenship

Today, the Senate Parliamentarian, an unelected staff member of the Senate, advised that she would reject the latest version of the immigration provisions (a proposal to update the registry law).

Included in the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation infrastructure package. The decision comes a few weeks after the Senate Parliamentarian knocked down the original provisions, specifically a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrant Americans.

Yesterday, Senator Dick Durbin announced the Democrats would pursue a proposal to update the registry law, which would increase the number of immigrants eligible to apply for legal status, in response to the Parliamentarian’s original ruling on a pathway to citizenship for immigrants. Legalizing millions of immigrants will result in an additional $149 billion in GDP and $39 billion in federal, state, and local taxes, according to a recently released FWD.us report. Overcoming the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision requires a unified 50 vote majority in the Senate.

Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, NYIC Action

“Twice now, an unelected bureaucrat has attempted to thwart the best chance for immigrant justice in over thirty years. But the Senate Parliamentarian’s strict adherence to arcane procedural technicalities does not outweigh the needs of millions of immigrant families waiting for relief. Congressional Democrats must make good on their promises to American voters and immigrants, who have kept our country running throughout this pandemic. With midterm elections looming, Congressional Democrats have an easy choice to make: do they listen to the majority of American voters who support legalization? Or do they allow obscure Senate procedures to derail their agenda and endanger the country’s economic recovery? Democrats must seize the moment to ensure America’s economic recovery and growth. That’s why today we will be holding a vigil outside of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s Brooklyn home and will keep the pressure on with a follow-up action at his midtown office on Friday at Noon.”

Background

Throughout September, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) has joined its national partners in a series of actions demanding that Congressional Democrats hold firm on their promise to deliver a pathway to citizenship. Over the summer, NYIC and Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) members led one thousand immigrant essential workers, elected officials, and immigrant rights advocates to demand the inclusion of a pathway to citizenship in the Democrats’ budget reconciliation infrastructure bill.

A few weeks before the inauguration of President Biden, NYIC launched an aggressive campaign targeted at key members of New York’s Democratic congressional delegation, demanding an unequivocal commitment to achieving a pathway to citizenship. NYIC’s work is part of a multi-organizational and national effort spearheaded by FIRM to transform America’s immigration system. A recent Data for Progress poll revealed a clear majority of Americans, 67%, support legalization for Dreamers, TPS recipients, and essential workers. A FWD.us report outlined that legalization would provide $149 billion in GDP and $39 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.

NYIC Action (nyicaction.org) was originally formed in 2010 as a sister organization to the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), a 501(c)(3) coalition with 200 member organizations across New York State. In order to increase the political potency of the immigrant vote, Immigrant Action endorses candidates and elected officials who stand up for immigrant communities and against anti-immigrant opponents.

Immigrant Action engages in targeted advocacy on specific immigrant-related issues such as legislative scorecards, pointed advocacy flyers highlighting individual elected officials’ stances, and intensive grassroots and direct lobbying of elected officials.

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for more than 200 groups in New York State. We envision a New York state that is stronger because all people are welcome, treated fairly, and given the chance to pursue their dreams. Our mission is to unite immigrants, members, & allies so all New Yorkers can thrive.

We represent the collective interests of New York’s diverse immigrant communities and organizations and devise solutions to advance them; advocate for laws, policies, and programs that lead to justice and opportunity for all immigrant groups; and build the power of immigrants and the organizations that serve them to ensure their sustainability, to improve people’s lives, and to strengthen our state.