Washington, DC – Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), one of the nation’s foremost champions for immigrants, appeared on NPR this weekend to assess the way forward for the Build Back Better legislative package, including its immigration provisions. He noted:
- Delivering relief and reform for undocumented immigrants is popular: “As long as these undocumented – and there are 11 million, at least, in our country – undocumented people are working and paying their fair share of taxes, most believe that over a period of time…they ought to still be given an opportunity.”
- Republicans will filibuster and derail any attempts to move forward positive immigration policy on a separate, non-BBB legislative track: “May I remind you of the dreaded word, the filibuster? I introduced the Dream Act 20 years ago, a pathway to citizenship for kids brought here when they were infants and toddlers and little kids. I’ve tried, tried and tried five different times, and filibusters stopped me in the Senate.”
- His optimism and resolve on getting to yes: “By the end of the year – Chuck Schumer and I discussed with our caucus – we put a lot of work and a lot of time in this. And hats off to Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats for what they achieved. Now it’s our turn … It’s going to be a busy December, but we’ve got to get the job done … Let’s get it done.”
A memo America’s Voice released Friday offers a recap on why the work permits and deportation protections that passed in the House legislation are a major step forward, and a step that we believe will propel us forward in our quest for a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants who are Americans in all but paperwork.
The memo explores three key points:
- The immigration provisions of BBB would provide meaningful relief for 7.1 million undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for an average of 20 years.
- The provisions are specifically designed to pass muster with the Senate Parliamentarian.
- The American public strongly supports reform and relief for undocumented immigrants.
Read the full memo from America’s Voice: Supporting the Meaningful Immigration Provisions in the Build Back Better Legislative Package
