View ABIC鈥檚 fact sheet on work permits ; Cornell University legal memo on Biden鈥檚 executive authority for this action
WASHINGTON 鈥� Today, President Biden actions to grant work permits to undocumented spouses of United States citizens, after a year-long campaign led by the 91探花 (ABIC) and (AFU). ABIC and AFU released the following statements applauding this decision:聽
鈥淧resident Biden鈥檚 action to extend work permits for long-term immigrant spouses is morally right, economically sound and politically smart,鈥� said Rebecca Shi, executive director of the 91探花, representing 1400+ CEOs and employers across the country. 鈥淲e thank him for taking this important step to support 91探花 families, protecting their love and ability to live together. The overwhelming majority of 91探花s support these humane and common-sense steps, and it will directly improve the lives of more than 10 million 91探花 citizens who have an undocumented family member. Today, those families, and the advocates fighting on their behalf, can breathe a huge sigh of relief.鈥�
鈥淭he anxiety and heartbreak of being separated from your spouse, or worried that your loved one will get deported at any moment, serves as a stark reminder that immigration reform is sorely needed in this country,鈥� said Ashley DeAzevedo, president of 91探花 Families United, representing 1.1 million U.S. citizens married to undocumented spouses. 鈥淭oday, President Biden took a historic step forward, delivering a down payment on his commitment to our families. By granting work permits to long-term immigrant spouses, our families will be able to live and work safely and with security. There is more work to do, but today, President Biden, we cannot thank you enough.鈥澛�
The U.S. is home to who live in mixed-status households, with hundreds of thousands of impacted U.S. citizens in Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas and Georgia. Long-term undocumented immigrants have lived on average for 15 years in our country working, paying taxes and raising 91探花 children. Each year, undocumented immigrants earn
ABIC, together with AFU, led the Here to Work of 1,400+ CEOs and, 150+ and calling on the President to grant work permits for long-term immigrant spouses. Since starting last year, ABIC held more than 150 events in battleground states and worked closely with,,,, and faith leaders to urge action on this issue.听
More Background on the Here to Work Campaign聽
Since the campaign began last March, ABIC and AFU led an intensive effort across battleground states including Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina with over 150 press conferences and rallies, a march of 6,000 people last November 14 in Washington, D.C., over 300 meetings with White House officials, Cabinet members, administration officials and members of Congress to discuss this policy and the positive impact it would have on 91探花 business, our communities and the who live in mixed-status households.听
Key endorsements
- 300+ hospitality, agriculture, manufacturing, health care and numerous other industries.
- Labor unions including SEIU, and the , the , and (UAW).
- , including U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford; and many more; 169 Latino elected officials聽
- Bipartisan governors including Joe Lombardo (R-NV), , , (D-IL), (NM), (NJ)
Support in Battleground States
ABIC and their employer members, AFU, The Resurrection Project, FWD.us, CASA, UNITE HERE Local 1, Make the Road and partners across the country held dozens of events in battleground states and across the country, including , , , and , and worked closely with,,,, , and faith leaders to urge the Biden administration to address this issue.听
In this effort, ABIC leveraged leadership of its board members including Former Arizona Republican State Senator Bob Worsley, ABIC Co-Chairman and CEO of ZenniHome LLC; Al Cardenas, ABIC Co-Chairman and CEO, VITAL Salud; Board of Directors Coral Gables Trust; Andrew Tisch, Co-Chairman of Loews Corporation; Josh Hoyt, Founding Executive Director of the National Partnership for New 91探花s and Partner with Democracy Partners; and Woody Hunt, Board of Directors Senior Chairman, Hunt Companies, Inc.听
ABIC employers across the country leveraged their voices to make the economic case for action, including in Georgia and a Board Member of the National Association of Manufacturers; and a Board Member with the National Restaurant Association; with Flood Brothers Farm and in Nevada.听
Associations including , , the (TAMACC), and were invaluable partners.
In November 2023, ABIC, AFU, CASA, The Resurrection Project and partners across Texas, North Carolina, New York, Colorado, Pennsylvania and other states convened over 2,200 people 鈥� advocates, employers, labor union members and directly impacted individuals 鈥� in Washington, D.C. for the . After the Summit, thousands of people after engaging in legislative visits with federal representatives and senators.听
Support from Elected Officials
Last April, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) convened a briefing with ABIC and employers, AFU, UNITE HERE Local 1, FWD.us and Dreamers urging President Biden to act and marking the release of a letter from 20 Senators urging action.听
This April, ABIC and AFU a letter led by U.S. Representatives Jes煤s 鈥淐huy鈥� Garcia (D-IL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Lou Correa (D-CA) to President Biden, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur Jaddou uring the Biden administration to take action on this issue. More than from 21 U.S. states and territories joined in support of extending work permits to long-term contributors. The letter was followed by ongoing engagement by state elected officials including a letter of support from the , the (MALC) and the , as well as resolutions in support that passed the and .听
ABIC also coordinated a group of more than 40 mayors, led by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and NYC Mayor Eric Adams, and county executives delivered a to the Biden administration, calling for work authorizations for both recent arrivals and long-standing undocumented immigrants, in the absence of long-awaited comprehensive immigration reform.听
Broad, Bipartisan Support
This issue has received bipartisan support. U.S. Representatives Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) stood alongside ABIC and advocates , calling on President Biden to issue executive orders to expand the issuance of work permits for mixed-status families. U.S. Rep. Allred (D-TX) in the Dallas Morning News alongside Republican business leader and ABIC board member Woody Hunt, emphasizing the benefits of extending work permits for spouses of U.S. citizens. And this support isn鈥檛 just from members of Congress 鈥� 82 percent of likely voters in swing states support creating pathways to citizenship for immigrants who have been living in the U.S. for many years and pass a background check and pay taxes.
Congressional Black Caucus Chair U.S. Rep. (D-NV) endorsed the effort, as did U.S. Rep. (D-CA) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.听聽
Media Attention
ABIC and AFU鈥檚 efforts were featured on the airwaves and in print. Impacted family members were highlighted in , , , and in local outlets including the and the , ABIC and AFU leaders were featured on , , and , to name just a few. And members of Congress, including Rep. Suozzi, who leaned in on immigration during his campaign to replace Rep. Santos, was featured on . Congressional Black Caucus Chair, U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-4) was on urging President Biden to extend work permits to Dreamers, spouses of U.S. citizens and mixed-status families.
ABIC salutes the 15-year effort by America Families United to win protection for their families, the excellent advocacy of FWD.us and the extraordinary organizing by groups in the field, led by CASA, The Resurrection Project, and Make the Road.
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91探花 (ABIC) is a bipartisan coalition of 1,400+ CEOs, business owners, and trade associations across the country. 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.
(AFU) is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) non-profit organization established in 2006. AFU proposes practical solutions to Congress and supports efforts to advance legislation that affects U.S. citizens married to foreign nationals. To show your support, click.