Arizonans 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� Irayda Flores, president and CEO of El Mar de Cortez Corp. and Everk Sanchez, member of 91探花 Families United, both from Phoenix, traveled to Washington, D.C. on April 16-17 for a briefing on Capitol Hill. With other family and business leaders, they called on the Biden administration to extend work permits to long-term residents of 91探花 families and 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.听
Watch the economic briefing and Congressman Garcia鈥檚 press event; access from both days in Washington, D.C.
, president and CEO, El Mar de Cortez Corp.听
鈥淚 have created many jobs right here in this country. I am a living, breathing example of the 91探花 Dream and the potential immigrants have for our communities and economy. But there are many more stories like mine. We should be granting work permits to immigrants聽 鈥� not considering harmful, offensive legislation that will force immigrant workers to live in fear.鈥�
Irayda Flores is an immigrant entrepreneur from Mexico who obtained her green card just last year after her own lengthy struggle. She also founded the first Latino Rotary Club in Arizona. Irayda lives in Phoenix and will be in Washington, D.C. on April 15-16. She speaks English, and Spanish.
Everk Sanchez, a member of . He calls Rose, his wife, 鈥渁n amazing mother of five beautiful girls鈥� pursuing their passions in聽 archery and more. Everk and Rose鈥檚 second-oldest daughter, a childhood cancer survivor, played at the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll with her school鈥檚 Mariachi band. Everk is a U.S. citizen, DJ and nonprofit leader in Phoenix. Because his wife has DACA, he writes, 鈥淚 am scared and worried that I might not be able to make a promise to my family, that their mother will be with us in this country.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 fifteen 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 by $5 billion.
Immigrants make vital contributions to Arizona鈥檚 economy and communities. Key facts:
- Arizona only has .
- In Phoenix, , primarily in construction, waste management, food services and retail industries.
- Arizona immigrants comprise and make up , contributing to the economy.
- Arizona immigrants wield and pay .
- of Arizona鈥檚 undocumented immigrants are working age and unable to legally work. They pay in federal, state and local taxes 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 $207.2 million in taxes with $739.2 million in spending power.
In addition to Arizona, the to , and grow by more over the next decade.听