Latinos in Congress push for pathway to citizenship on Biden’s Build Back Better act

Latino members of Congress asked to reinstate a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in a letter sent out on Monday. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, J. Luis Correa, Adriano Espaillat, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, and Grace Meng released a statement on immigration reform in Biden’s Build Back Better bill.

In the letter, the representatives urge Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin to reinstate a pathway to citizenship.  

Immigrant communities have waited long enough and #TheTimeIsNow to deliver for them.

That's why I joined my colleagues @RepAOC, @RepLouCorrea, @RepEspaillat, and @RepGraceMeng in this letter calling on Senate leadership to ensure that a pathway to citizenship is included in BBB. pic.twitter.com/EsacZJxHg4

— Congressman Chuy García (@RepChuyGarcia) November 23, 2021

The House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act last week. In the bill, the White House secured protections and work authorization for undocumented individuals, including a provision that grants immigrants a five-year parole status.

However, the bill does not include a way for undocumented individuals to receive citizenship.

“Though this bill delivers urgently needed relief to undocumented immigrants, it falls short of the pathway to citizenship that I’ve been fighting for and that immigrants deserve. It means families separated for decades can finally be reunited, workers can speak out against abuses without fear of retaliation, and immigrants can wake up every morning with some peace of mind,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García.

“The House version of the BBB Act limits relief for certain undocumented individuals to a five-year parole status, yet another form of temporary reprieve,” says the letter.

In September, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that the pathway for citizenship does not follow budget reconciliation rules and can therefore not be included in the bill.

The House democrats argued that the Senate should ignore the Parliamentarian, claiming that “the role of the Parliamentarian is an advisory one, and the Parliamentarian’s opinion is not binding.”

“We now write to urge you and the rest of our colleagues in the Senate to reinstate a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farm workers, and essential workers in the Senate’s version of the reconciliation bill,” says the letter.  

“As this bill heads to the Senate, we must fight to ensure that we do not squander this once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“For decades, immigrants have sought relief from the precarity of jumping from one temporary status to another in the only country they call home. Another temporary status would merely extend this precarity,” said the letter.