Washington, DC – The voices of 850 faith leaders and nearly 150 faith-based organizations will be on record at the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety hearing on “The Essential Role of Immigrant Workers in America.”
Leaders from 45 states plus the District Columbia joined a statement from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, which will be submitted into the hearing record. Constituents of every senator on the subcommittee endorsed the effort.
They write:
We know that countless immigrant members of our congregations, places of worship, and communities have worked throughout the pandemic as essential workers, providing the basic goods and critical services which have helped us all make it through this terrible season. And yet, we as a people have treated our immigrant “essential” workers as expendable, as exploitable – extracting their labor while disregarding their humanity.
To fix this, they state:
We respectfully request that you include a pathway to citizenship for essential immigrant workers, farmworkers, people with DACA, TPS, and DED, and their families in the upcoming recovery packages you have prioritized through reconciliation.
An inclusive legislative proposal on immigration relief, which recognizes the dignity of all, is long overdue. Our immigrant family members and neighbors who are integral parts of this nation deserve the protection and opportunity of a clear path to citizenship.
Any package should recall the worth and dignity conferred by our Creator, and not exclude or discriminate against anyone based on interactions with our nation’s racist criminal justice system. Instead, we’re hopeful that a package maximizes eligibility for relief, stabilizing the workforce, ensuring that families stay together, and our communities can thrive.
Read the full letter here: http://bit.ly/P2CIICMay2021.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants.
Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm
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