“It is immoral that the U.S. continues to accept immigrants’ hard work and sacrifices, but refuses to grant them citizenship”
Washington, DC – As the Senate Judiciary Committee hears testimony regarding the American Dream and Promise Act on June 15, faith leaders call on Congress to urgently pass this measure, and others, that create a path to citizenship for aspiring Americans.
Peniel Ibe, Policy Engagement Coordinator at the American Friends Service Committee and Co-Chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC), said:”It has been two years since H.R.6 passed out of the House. DACA, TPS, and DED holders have lived in limbo for too long, braving attacks on the program in the courts. So first, we must celebrate their resiliency in this journey. We also welcome this long overdue action from our Senators but we want more than just a hearing. We want a bill introduction and we want to see a long list of cosponsors come out in support of this bill. More importantly, we want our Senate champions to improve this bill so that the criminalization of immigrants in the House version doesn’t become further entrenched in our immigration laws, and then we want to see the bill become law. We also need to see deliberate efforts to pass legislation for a clear, inclusive, timely, roadmap to citizenship all 11 million undocumented people in the U.S.”
“A path to citizenship for immigrants in the United States is long overdue,” said Elissa Diaz, Policy and Advocacy Manager for Church World Service and Co-Chair of the IIC. “Legislation addressing citizenship for immigrant youth has been pending in Congress for twenty years! The ‘original Dreamers’ now have their own careers and families. Yet they, their parents, and other immigrants who have been working and paying taxes for decades still live in limbo, wondering when they will be torn from their lives and everything they know. Many loved ones have already been deported. It is immoral that the U.S. continues to accept immigrants’ hard work and sacrifices, but refuses to grant them citizenship. The Senate must take action and pass a path to citizenship immediately. It’s the only right thing to do.”
The American people want solutions, and the House has already taken the first steps. In March, bills that allow farmworkers and people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to apply for permanent legal status cleared the House on a bipartisan basis. Polling from Global Strategy Group, ALG Research, Public Opinion Strategies (GOP) poll, and Data For Progress all show that a range of 66% to 75% of those polled desire a path to citizenship. In spite of this overwhelming support, the Senate has not yet marked up any immigration bill.
Giovana Oaxaca of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America added: “As people of faith, we believe in the inherent dignity of every human being, worthy of justice and inclusion. We believe that our federal government must legislate in ways that promote full human flourishing, as creating a path to citizenship would do. The next step is for the Senate to take bold action. We are calling on Senate Democratic leaders to ensure that a path to citizenship for our immigrant family members, neighbors, and friends becomes law this year.”
“The time is overdue for Congress to move forward a pathway to citizenship for friends and neighbors that are already part of our communities, but are treated with inequity due to our outdated and unjust immigration system,” said Rev. Noel Andersen of Church World Service and the United Church of Christ National Collaborative on Immigration. “As people of faith, we call upon our elected officials to act boldly and do everything in their power to help as many people as possible find justice, to keep families together, and to create a pathway to citizenship. This means Congress must include these critical provisions within the process of reconciliation to ensure there are no further delays for community members who deserve to be treated as full members of our society.”
In May, 850 faith leaders and nearly 150 faith-based organizations from forty-five states plus the District of Columbia called on Congress to enact a path to citizenship through budget reconciliation.
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.
Photo: Mike DuBose, United Methodist News Service
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