MILWAUKEE — Today, Milwaukee City Council President José Pérez joined other local leaders to call on President Biden to grant legal work permits to long-term immigrants. The 91̽�� (ABIC) hosted the press conference focused on the pressing need for the Biden administration to act this year to expand legal work permits to undocumented spouses and immediate family of United States citizens, Dreamers ineligible for DACA and long-term workers without a path to legal status. has reported that President Biden is considering administrative action to expand access to work permits for the undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens.

José Pérez and more than from 21 U.S. states and territories, signed a letter in support of extending work permits to these groups. The policy is estimated to increase annual tax revenue by while shielding immigrants from exploitation and advancing a strong workforce that matches worker skills to employers’ needs. (View the full letter .)

Here’s what speakers had to say:

, President of the Milwaukee City Council:

“We are asking the Democratic Party and President Joe Biden to step up and act now to support hard-working immigrant families in Wisconsin and throughout the country. They want no special favors. They want no special treatment. They want work permits to free them to contribute to our economy. Think about it, there are . At the same time, there are men and women who want nothing more than to get to work and build a future.” 

“Given the chance, I would tell President Biden that this is a rare opportunity to do the right thing, which goes hand in hand with good politics.”

, Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Member:

“Work permits would allow 1.1 million spouses of US citizens to adjust their status. Undocumented workers are vital to the economy.

“We must push to make the Biden administration issue work permits for the undocumented. A person’s worth should not be determined on what they produce or what they can do for the economy. But if that’s what they are going to do, let them have their dignity while they do it. And have them stop living in fear while they work.”

Pam Fendt, Officer Milwaukee Area Labor Council and President Laborers’ Local 113:

“We support any steps that the Biden administration can take to make more people eligible for work permits, expedite the processing of work permits, and remove barriers to citizenship for working families – whether that be through deferred action, parole, or TPS.��

“Immigrant rights are worker rights, and the AFL-CIO is here to stand with all workers, regardless of immigration status, so that together we can hold employers accountable and keep up the fight for justice in our workplace and community.”

Darryl Morin, President, :

“Today in Wisconsin, we are celebrating record economic growth and strength. We are experiencing record levels of employment. You’d think that employers around the state would be celebrating but I can tell you right now, they are not. I just got back from a business conference in Washington, D.C., and I can tell you the number one concern of every employer across our country is not supply chain or even their competitors. It is accessing the labor they need not just to grow their business, but to survive.

“So where can we turn today to find a large population of motivated and capable individuals ready today to join our workforce? There is only one answer to that question and it’s our immigrant community.��

“These are the people that are going to not only keep Wisconsin strong, but allow it to grow.”

Luis Velasquez, :

“Our request for parole authority to grant work permits to undocumented workers by the Biden administration is not only popular and beneficial for Wisconsin businesses, but it’s humane and morally right for those who have been in the country working and paying taxes for decades. It gives my family a chance to be reunited. My parents, my two citizen brothers and I were forced to be separated by programs like , and we have lived separated for 13 years now. With President Biden’s help, my family and many, many other families like mine would be reunited! 

“In a state where the margin of victory is so slim, we cannot afford to have regrets after election day! We need to make sure that executive action for mixed immigration status families is a priority for the Biden administration. This will be a turning point for the Latino vote in Wisconsin and we will win together!”

James O’Neill, Director of Legislative Affairs, :

“The good news is that President Biden has the power to solve this problem. He has the ability to grant work authorization to long-term immigrant contributors in essential industries like agriculture, hospitality, construction, manufacturing and more. Biden has the power to protect our Dreamers who are too young to qualify for the DACA program. Our president has the power to keep mixed-status families together and live up to his promise: to end family separation.

“If unemployment was to get down to zero percent, there would still be over 3 across the country, needing to be filled. The labor shortage has contributed to rising grocery costs, altered business hours and limited expansion and threatens downsizing for small businesses in every state. In Wisconsin, there are only ; that is staggering. We need to be adding people to our workforce and do it now.”

Megan, member and impacted family:

“Many U.S. citizens are unable to obtain lawful status for their spouses due to laws passed in the ‘90s that created permanent bars for minor non-criminal issues.��

“As a result, we have U.S. citizens who for five to 20 years or longer have been banned from obtaining lawful status for their spouses. 6,000 Wisconsinites are in this exact situation. My family used to be in a similar situation. Our immigration system has separated families and forced families out of the U.S.

“President Biden has the power to reunite these families and provide work permits to those here. President Biden has abandoned our families.

“We are disillusioned and disappointed by President Biden. Harsh immigration policies are profoundly stupid — they hurt U.S. citizens and hurt our economy. Policies like work permits and sanctuary cities are smart policies that in the past would have helped my own family.��

President Biden, don’t abandon us, keep your promises — and we still have hope that you will — and help the spouses of U.S. citizens and others with work permits and family reunification.”

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91̽�� (ABIC) is a bipartisan coalition of over 1,400+ CEOs, business owners, and trade associations across 17 mostly red and purple states. ABIC promotes common sense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs and citizens.

The post Milwaukee Council President José Perez and Other Local Leaders Issue Urgent Call to President Biden: Extend Work Permits to Long-Term Immigrants appeared first on 91̽��.

Watch Durbin economic briefing and García press conference; download

WASHINGTON – Megan, a member of , traveled from Wisconsin 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 91̽�� families and residents of U.S. communities. To interview her about her experiences, contact press@americanbic.biz.��

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. Jesús “Chuy” García (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.��

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’s press event; access from both days in Washington, D.C.

Megan, a U.S. citizen from Wisconsin and a member of , with husband for 20 years; parents of two children, said, “My husband has worked in multiple industries. Despite this, my family can be separated or I can be forced to leave my country just like thousands of other U.S. citizens. These are the immigration policies that are actually hurting U.S. citizens and 6,000 Wisconsinites are in the same situation as me. Frankly, I am shocked that President Biden hasn’t taken the issue of family separation of U.S. citizens seriously. He has the authority to act and provide our spouses with work permits and protection from separation.”

“Today, there are an estimated 1.1 million U.S. citizens married to an undocumented immigrant.�� 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,” said U.S. Sen. Durbin. “These immigrants already pay taxes and work in our communities. If they were given a path to citizenship, it would bring stability to their families—and they would pay an additional $5 billion dollars in taxes.”

Durbin continued, “It’s time for our Republican colleagues in Congress to set aside extremist rhetoric and come to work with us on solutions. But 91̽�� families need solutions now.�� 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.�� It is only a temporary solution—ultimately Congress needs to act.�� 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.”

“I’ve heard from employers across my district. They need workers, and they want to hire the ‘right way’. I’ve heard from my constituents who have been waiting for too long to get work permits,” said U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García. “Our message to the President is clear. It’s past time we provide immigrants, who’ve 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.”

U.S. Senators Durbin, Rosen, Warnock, Fetterman and 15 other senators to President Biden asking him to “protect and unify 91̽�� families” and “provide much needed relief for undocumented immigrants and the 91̽�� businesses, families, and communities that rely upon them.” Chicago Mayor ; Iris Ramos Jones, Director of the Nevada Office for New 91̽��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.�� 

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 .��

Immigrants make vital contributions to Wisonsin’s economy and communities. Key facts:

• Wisconsin only has .
• are employed, primarily in waste management, food services, construction, manufacturing and health services industries.
• Wisconsin immigrants comprise and make up, contributing to the economy.
• Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin.

In addition to Wisconsin, 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 .

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