Michigander Called for Work Permits for Long-Term Immigrant Contributors on Capitol Hill
Watch Durbin economic briefing and Garc铆a press conference; download
WASHINGTON 鈥� Amanda Valencia, member of (Lansing) traveled to Washington, D.C. on April 16-17 for a briefing on Capitol Hill, calling on the Biden administration to extend work permits to immigrants who are long-term members of 91探花 families and residents of U.S. communities. To interview her about her experiences, contact press@americanbic.biz.听
On Tuesday, she participated in an economic briefing hosted by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (R-IL), with U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA). On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Jes煤s 鈥淐huy鈥� Garc铆a (D-IL) held a press conference at the House Triangle to make the case for work permits for all, alongside other business, labor, community and family leaders. He and U.S. Representatives Correa (D-CA) and Espaillat (D-NY) also sent a to the Biden administration accelerating this call to act.听
The New York Times reported on the among families of mixed immigration status and employers across the country, who want President Biden to extend work permits to immigrants who have been living in and contributing to this country for years. The Wall Street Journal reported on the for their non-citizen spouses and other long-term residents to stabilize the workforce, grow the economy and keep families together.
The Wall Street Journal reported on the for their non-citizen spouses and other long-term residents to stabilize the workforce, grow the economy and keep families together.
Watch the economic briefing and Congressman Garcia鈥檚 press event; access from both days in Washington, D.C.
Amanda Valencia, an member, representing 17,000 U.S. citizens in Michigan with undocumented spouses, has been married to her husband for nearly nine years; together, they are the parents of two U.S. citizen children. She said, 鈥淲e have been dealing with my husband鈥檚 immigration issues for years. We tried doing things the so-called 鈥榬ight way,鈥� but it was not successful for us due to inadmissible bars. He was denied his return to the U.S. with our family, after his consular interview in Mexico. We suffered a lot over the years. Last year, due to stress, my husband suffered a brain aneurysm and needed emergency brain surgery. I was thousands of miles away and completely helpless. Even in that dire circumstance, we were unable to get any type of relief. Thankfully, my husband recovered and returned with us in the U.S., through other legal channels. But, this does not fix the problem. We need President Biden to act.鈥�
鈥淭oday, there are an estimated 1.1 million U.S. citizens married to an undocumented immigrant.听 Our laws are supposed to provide U.S. citizens an opportunity to sponsor their noncitizen family members, but our outdated immigration system includes many categorical bars that prevent spouses from obtaining status. These families live in fear that their loved ones may be deported at any time,鈥� said U.S. Sen. Durbin. 鈥淭hese immigrants already pay taxes and work in our communities. If they were given a path to citizenship, it would bring stability to their families鈥攁nd they would pay an additional $5 billion dollars in taxes.鈥�
Durbin continued, 鈥淚t鈥檚 time for our Republican colleagues in Congress to set aside extremist rhetoric and come to work with us on solutions. But 91探花 families need solutions now.听 That is why I led a letter with 18 of my colleagues to President Biden asking him to provide the spouses of U.S. citizens with a work permit.听 It is only a temporary solution鈥攗ltimately Congress needs to act.听 But it is essential that we do everything possible in the meantime to allow these families to live free of fear of deportation and stay together.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e heard from employers across my district. They need workers, and they want to hire the 鈥榬ight way鈥�. I鈥檝e heard from my constituents who have been waiting for too long to get work permits,鈥� said U.S. Rep. Jes煤s 鈥淐huy鈥� Garc铆a. 鈥淥ur message to the President is clear. It鈥檚 past time we provide immigrants, who鈥檝e already been doing the work and keeping our country running, with the work permits they deserve. Jobs not only create opportunities for immigrant families, but also bring stability to entire communities. We are stronger because of immigrants, not despite them. Expanding access to them is a matter of economic justice.鈥�
U.S. Senators Durbin, Rosen, Warnock, Fetterman and 15 other senators to President Biden asking him to 鈥減rotect and unify 91探花 families鈥� and 鈥減rovide much needed relief for undocumented immigrants and the 91探花 businesses, families, and communities that rely upon them.鈥� Chicago Mayor ; Iris Ramos Jones, Director of the Nevada Office for New 91探花s ( by Gov. Lombardo); more than ; and representing U.S business, labor, local government, faith, civil rights and family voices have been calling for this commonsense policy change for years.
On April 5, U.S. Department of Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas the call to action. The proposal is legally , politically and requires only to the existing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy manual to expand work permits to nuclear relatives of United States citizens.听聽
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, we have in the U.S., but only . Even if unemployed person in the country found a job, we would still have nearly . The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office attributes a increase to the national GDP to immigration. While mixed-status families already contribute billions in federal, state and local taxes, a FWD.US estimate finds that permitting undocumented spouses to work legally would .听
Immigrants make vital contributions to Michigan鈥檚 economy and communities. Key facts:
- Michigan only has .
- , primarily in manufacturing, food services, waste management, construction and health services industries.
- Michigan immigrants comprise and make up , contributing to the economy.
- Michigan immigrants wield and pay .
- are working age and unable to legally work. They pay and harness .
- live with at least one undocumented person, comprising mixed-status families. (less than 18-years-old) live with at least one undocumented person.
- in Michigan.
In addition to Michigan, the to , and grow by more over the next decade. Immigrants in the U.S. have a combined household income of and contribute and , leaving them with .