Illinoisans 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� Sam Sanchez, owner of and a Board Member of the ; Gerardo Diaz, member of ; Rebecca Shi, executive director of the 91探花; Karen Kent, president of ; Roushaunda Williams, Member/Leader of and the ; and Evelyn Barrios, a Dreamer who attends DePaul University and is part of 聽 traveled from Chicago to Washington, D.C. on April 16-17 for a briefing on Capitol Hill, calling on the Biden administration to extend work permits聽 to immigrants who are long-term members of 91探花 families and residents of U.S. communities. To interview them about their experiences, contact press@americanbic.biz.听
On Tuesday, they 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.
, Chairman and CEO of Third Coast Hospitality; Board Member, National Restaurant Association, stated 鈥淲e鈥檙e urging President Biden to enact an executive order for long-term immigrants, some of whom have children and grandchildren who are of voting age. Their family members deserve to participate in the economy where they can get their tax refunds, where they can grow their businesses, where they can feel that they鈥檙e part of this nation 鈥� not being treated as second-class citizens.鈥� Sanchez is the first Mexican-91探花 elected Board Chair of the Illinois Restaurant Association. He lives in Chicago and is available for interviews in English and Spanish.听
Gerardo Diaz of Illinois represented his family and . He said, 鈥淚鈥檓 a blue-collar 91探花, born and raised in Aurora, Illinois. I鈥檓 tired of waiting for you, President Biden, to act for my two beautiful children, my daughter Nathalia, 7, and my son Gerry, 2, who I haven鈥檛 been able to live with for two years because they are with their mother, my beautiful wife Elizabeth, who was rejected at her immigration interview in El Salvador and hasn鈥檛 been allowed home. How many more 91探花 families will have to be separated like mine before you use your authority? My daughter Nathalia and son Gerry are waiting for your answer.鈥�
Rebecca Shi, executive director of 91探花, said, 鈥淲e are inspired by President Biden granting work permits to new migrants and ask that he extends the same dignity of a legal work permit to long term residents, including spouses of U.S. citizens.鈥�
The senators and leaders from 91探花 Families United were joined by labor and business leaders as well. 鈥淥ur union supports expanding work permits for long-term undocumented individuals because it is an important step to help immigrant workers be more secure in their workplaces and provide stability to immigrant families,鈥� said Karen Kent, president of .
鈥淎s a mother of two sons and a former caseworker for young people in the state鈥檚 care, I have often wished I had a magic wand to protect our children. Well, we can create magic right now by expanding work permits for long-term undocumented people. We can ensure that immigrant families and children have the stability and protection they deserve,鈥� said Roushaunda Williams, member of who serves on the .
Evelyn Barrios is a Dreamer who attends DePaul University and is part of . She said, 鈥淚 was the first in my family to finish high school and will be the first to graduate from DePaul University, with a degree I cannot use. For 16 years, I have fought to defend my right to study, work and simply live here. I have put so much effort into studying and working without knowing if I will be able to pursue my dreams. After graduating, I will pursue my Master鈥檚. But how many degrees do I need to prove my worth? We need work permits for everyone. I urge President Biden to expand work authorization for all immigrants in our communities. We need a solution that allows us to live with dignity.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 Illinois鈥� economy and communities. Key facts:
- Illinois only has .
- , primarily in manufacturing, food services, waste management, construction and retail industries.
- Illinois immigrants comprise and make up , contributing to the economy.
- Illinois immigrants wield and pay .
- 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.
- is employed, contributing and wielding .
In addition to Illinois, the to , and grow by more over the next decade.听 Immigrants in the U.S. have a combined household income of and contribute and , leaving them with .