Today, the Republican National Committee (RNC) passed a resolution calling on Congress to pass immigration reform this year, but failed to embrace an inclusive path to initial legalization and an achievable path to eventual citizenship. Instead, for the 11 million undocumented immigrants settled in America, the RNC proposes renewable work permits – including for the DREAMers – with no chance to ever apply for citizenship. The following is a statement from Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, responding to the news:
The RNC has passed a resolution calling for immigration reform by the end of the year. Okay, good start. But then they went downhill – fast. The RNC’s vision of reform would consign millions of immigrants – including DREAMers – to a permanent underclass. It says that you can graduate from our universities and serve in our armed forces, but you can’t be a citizen. It says you can scrub our floors, bus our tables, make our beds and care for our kids but you are not good enough to be one of us. It says you can get to the back of the bus, and never have a chance to earn the full rights and responsibilities of citizenship.