Yesterday, Senate Democrats announced a $3.5 trillion budget as part of the Build Back Better agenda. Democrats have included a path to citizenship, along with jobs, care and climate, in a reconciliation package that can be enacted by simple majorities in the House and the Senate.
To read our statement on the matter, click here.
In response to this announcement, many individuals and groups expressed their support and continued to push Democrats and Republicans to ensure that the human infrastructure package includes immigrant workers and families
Many members of Congress are already showing support:
It’s simple: budget reconciliation is the clearest path for immigration reform we’ve had in decades.
And 11 million undocumented immigrants are counting on us to seize the opportunity.
Read my latest in @thehill. ⤵️https://t.co/l1W5JxWjI3
— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) July 12, 2021
We cannot wait any longer to fix our immigration system and we need to use any opportunity available to do so—including budget reconciliation—for DACA youth, TPS holders, farmworkers, and other essential workers.
— Congressman Chuy García (@RepChuyGarcia) July 6, 2021
Tonight we took a big step forward in making major investments in critical infrastructure for the American people — from climate to childcare and immigration. Proud to work with @SenSchumer, @SenSanders & the rest of my colleagues on the Budget committee.pic.twitter.com/EBIzKlZ30d
— Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) July 14, 2021
Immigration reform cannot wait and Democrats need to use every tool at our disposal to get it done.
That's why we are urging comprehensive immigration reform be passed through the budget reconciliation process. https://t.co/DW3gK2zKaq
— Rep. Nydia Velazquez (@NydiaVelazquez) July 13, 2021
Many were shocked at Senator Manchin’s comments on the subject:
*MANCHIN SAYS SUPPORTS IMMIGRATION REFORM IN THE BUDGET DEAL
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) July 14, 2021
A number of organizations and activists were quick to commend this method of passing reform:
Congress hasn’t passed major immigration reform in over 30 years. It’s long overdue that Congress recognize immigrant essential workers and pass #Citizenship4All 11 million undocumented through budget reconciliation https://t.co/27Zr0wq8jc
— NAKASEC #WeCantWait #Citizenship4All (@nakasec) July 11, 2021
Reconciliation and mass immigration are mutually exclusive. It's impossible to logically support both.
— Danica Pierce (@danicapierce_) July 9, 2021
Some of the first clear indications of what the immigration sections of the reconciliation bill include.
This could bring a path to legal status for potentially millions of undocumented immigrants—but depending on the details, could leave out millions more. https://t.co/nV39PBNWaM
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) July 14, 2021
