Today, the Senate Parliamentarian, an unelected advisor to the Senate, announced that the immigration provisions.
Specifically, a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants, included in the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation infrastructure package do not meet the requirements of the Byrd rule. Overcoming the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision requires a unified 50 vote majority in the Senate.
Immediately, Majority Leader Schumer released a statement announcing that Democrats had prepared alternate proposals and would be going back to the Senate Parliamentarian in the coming days.
The news comes after months of negotiations and votes on a continuing resolution on the spending plan in both houses of Congress. The legislation earmarks $107 billion to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, farmworkers, and immigrant essential workers, including potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrant New Yorkers.
Now, the Senate and the House must vote on the full spending plan. Legalizing millions of immigrants will result in an additional $149 billion in GDP and $39 billion in federal, state, and local taxes, according to a recently released FWD.us report.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“In defiance of the will of a majority of American voters and at the expense of our nation’s recovery, an unelected bureaucrat is attempting to thwart the thirty-year battle for immigrant justice. But we will not be giving up now. We have always known that this was just the beginning of a process. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer must move forward with an alternative approach that ensures that millions of undocumented immigrants can have the lasting protections they deserve.
For decades, millions of young people, TPS recipients, and hard-working families have waited for a pathway to citizenship. At stake is not only the fulfillment of dozens of broken promises but the very health and economic recovery of America. The fight is far from over.”
Background
Throughout the month of September, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) has joined its national partners in a series of actions demanding that Congressional Democrats hold firm on their promise to deliver a pathway to citizenship.
Over the summer, NYIC and Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) members led one thousand immigrant essential workers, elected officials, and immigrant rights advocates to demand the inclusion of a pathway to citizenship in the Democrats’ budget reconciliation infrastructure bill.
A few weeks before the inauguration of President Biden, NYIC launched an aggressive campaign targeted at key members of New York’s Democratic congressional delegation, demanding an unequivocal commitment to achieving a pathway to citizenship.
NYIC’s work is part of a multi-organizational and national effort spearheaded by FIRM to transform America’s immigration system.
A recent Data for Progress poll revealed a clear majority of Americans, 67%, support legalization for Dreamers, TPS recipients, and essential workers. A FWD.us report outlined that legalization would provide $149 billion in GDP and $39 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
A recent Data for Progress poll revealed a clear majority of Americans, 67%, support legalization for Dreamers, TPS recipients, and essential workers. A FWD.us report outlined that legalization would provide $149 billion in GDP and $39 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for more than 200 groups in New York State. We envision a New York state that is stronger because all people are welcome, treated fairly, and given the chance to pursue their dreams.
Our mission is to unite immigrants, members, & allies so all New Yorkers can thrive. We represent the collective interests of New York’s diverse immigrant communities and organizations and devise solutions to advance them; advocate for laws, policies, and programs that lead to justice and opportunity for all immigrant groups; and build the power of immigrants and the organizations that serve them to ensure their sustainability, to improve people’s lives, and to strengthen our state.
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