The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to create a path to citizenship for farmworkers and people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) on Thursday. Now, the U.S. Senate has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do its job, and turn these bills into law.
Press Releases
Leaders from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) welcome House passage of legislation that creates a path to citizenship for farmworkers and people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), among some others. Now, we turn our sights to the Senate, which has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do its part and help these bills become law.
Peniel Ibe, policy engagement coordinator at the American Friends Service Committee and Co-Chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, responded to the murder of eight people, most of Asian descent, in Georgia this week:
As people of faith, we mourn the victims of this heinous act, and pray for their loved ones who are suffering. We pray for healing in our communities.
Over a month ago, President Joe Biden promised to expand refugee protection in the United States, and proposed a revised Fiscal Year 2021 refugee admissions goal (or “Presidential Determination”) of 62,500, an increase from the previous administration’s refugee admissions goal of 15,000 – an historic low. To date, President Biden still has not made the change official, and more than 700 flights have been cancelled. This delay is devastating to the refugees who are at risk of seeing their security checks expire and facing prolonged family separation.
Bishop Philius H. Nicolas with Evangelical Crusade of Fishers of Men: “As a Haitian Pastor ministering in the community for over fifty years, I am shocked by the tragedy our nation is producing for Haitians seeking protections. By sending at least 17 deportations flights to Haiti since the beginning of February 2021, the U.S. has made the immoral choice to reject instead of protect over 1,000 Haitians–including more than 270 children–seeking asylum and security.”