Leading Civil and Human Rights Organizations Urge Courageous Leadership to Achieve Fair, Functional,
The following is a joint statement from Alianza Americas and Presente.org:
CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) introduced the Citizenship Act of 2021, legislation backed by the Biden Administration that –– among other provisions –– would allow undocumented immigrants living in the United States to eventually have the option to pursue U.S. citizenship by allowing them to apply for permanent residency visas.
“The pieces of legislation filed today point towards a much-needed reform in U.S. immigration law, one that may not come all at once. For real and tangible results to come about, it will be crucial to move forward with concrete and specifically targeted legislation. If enacted into law, ambitious legislative efforts will go a long way to bring us closer to a society that recognizes the invaluable role played by every member of our communities –– regardless of where each of us was born or previous contact with the criminal justice system,” said Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas.
As organizations committed to creating an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable way of life for migrant communities living in the United States and across the Americas, Alianza Americas and Presente.org urge Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to use every legislative tool available to protect migrant communities. At the same time, since Inauguration Day, we have been calling on the President to use his executive authority to protect immigrants in vulnerable situations, including immediately issuing a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation and ensuring meaningful and immediate access to all asylum seekers seeking protection. Additionally, we are working with members of Congress on other strategic legislative efforts such as the SECURE Act and DREAM Act.
“Since 2006, we have favored targeted legislative efforts as a preferred strategy to achieve a better U.S. immigration policy. While we support the idea of an entirely new, more humane, truly common-sense-driven immigration policy, we are convinced that getting there will take multiple, concrete steps. Therefore, we continue to urge our representatives and senators to support every legislative initiative intended to move us forward and avoid an everything-or-nothing approach. Our communities are desperately in need of concrete results now,” added Chacón.
“If Congress and President Biden truly want to transform immigration policy, they need to advance bold legislation that creates a better future for us all. The Democratic party was brought to power by the will of the people, and we expect our leaders to deliver what our families need to thrive. What we need is courageous and fearless leaders to fulfill their duty and put our human rights ahead of political self-interest,” said Matt Nelson, executive director of Presente.org.
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Alianza Americas is a network of migrant-led organizations working in the United States and transnationally to create an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable way of life for communities across North, Central, and South America.
Presente.org is the nation’s largest online Latinx organizing group — and the nation’s premier Latinx digital organizing hub — advancing social justice with technology, media, and culture. Build Power. Change Culture. ¡Stay Presente!
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