Washington, DC – Momentum continues to grow behind the push to include citizenship for immigrant youth, TPS holders, farm workers and other essential workers in the reconciliation package. From Democratic elected officials across the country – including governors, mayors, and both Senators and Members of Congress – to leading observers and outside voices, the drumbeat is growing louder:
- The Hill, “84 mayors call for immigration to be included in reconciliation”: “A group of mayors from cities in 28 states called on President Biden, Vice President Harris and Democratic leaders in Congress to include immigration provisions in a budget package to be passed through reconciliation. The 84 mayors represent cities throughout the country, including the nation’s four largest in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston. Mayors from smaller cities such as Boise, Idaho, and Grand Rapids, Mich., also signed the letter” (see copy of letter here, a press release here and recording of a press call on Monday with Mayors here).
- Democrats on Capitol Hill – across both chambers and ideological spectrum endorse reconciliation push: On Capitol Hill, Democrats across the party have reiterated their commitment to deliver citizenship for millions, including via inclusion of immigration in the reconciliation process. This includes Democrats across the ideological spectrum – from Senator Manchin to AOC – to two key committee chairmen, Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders and House Budget Committee Chair John Yarmuth. As Roll Call writes in a piece titled, “Democrats step up calls to add immigration to budget plan,” Rep. Yarmuth tweeted following Judge Hanen’s anti-DACA ruling: “After the DACA court ruling, Congress must step up. As House Budget Chairman, I believe we can draft a bill to get it done. After all, immigration through reconciliation has happened before.”
- Governors, including Colorado’s Jared Polis and Washington’s Jay Inslee, call for immigration in reconciliation package: Two July letters from Democratic governors who are former Members of Congress endorse the reconciliation push. Gov. Polis sent a letter to congressional leadership calling for, “reform including a pathway to earn citizenship through the reconciliation process.” Gov. Inslee sent a letter calling for citizenship, noting, “We need Congress to do so, to do so quickly, and to do so using any legislative means necessary, including budget reconciliation.”
- Janet Murguia and William Kristol op-ed in Washington Post: “How Democrats can protect the immigrants on the pandemic’s front lines”: Murguia, President and CEO of UnidosUS and Kristol, longtime conservative pundit and current Director of Defending Democracy Together, write in a new op-ed: “Americans want Congress to legislate a pathway to citizenship to keep families safe and together, especially those who have contributed so much to weathering covid-19 and to the current recovery … Most Americans don’t see this as a partisan issue. Republicans, unfortunately, seem unwilling to work seriously to find a solution to this problem. If Democrats must go it alone, they are doing so not to advance some political agenda, but for the good of the country.”
- Representative and former Governor Charlie Crist and Maria Rodriguez op-ed in Orlando Sentinel: “Essential workers have earned path to citizenship”: Crist represents Florida’s 13th congressional district and was Governor of Florida (2007-2011) and Rodriguez is Executive Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. They write, “Some of us are U.S. citizens by birth, others earn and become it. Essential workers should have that opportunity. As the U.S. Senate considers critical infrastructure and reconciliation bills, America should seize on the opportunity to include citizenship for essential workers. They, along with farmworkers, DREAMers, and Temporary Protected Status holders, have made America stronger — literally … Status for essential workers will help pay for infrastructure, and help make it work. A no brainer!”