Coalition of Immigrant Rights condemns no pathway to citizenship in Build Back Better package
Denver, CO – On November 3, the House Rules Committee finalized the language in the Build Back Better package or budget reconciliation for the House to vote on later this week. While immigration is still in the plan, parole in place has replaced a full path to citizenship. This decision follows the suggestions of the Senate parliamentarian to not include a path to citizenship in the reconciliation bill despite the obvious budgetary impact and historical precedence.
While some Democrats are quick to still call parole in place a win for the immigrant community at large, the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, CIRC opposes parole in place as a replacement for a pathway to citizenship, and insists that elected officials work to grant the people what was promised. CIRC has joined other organizations across the country in demanding that Congressional Democrats ignore the advice of the parliamentarian and move forward with a full path to citizenship for millions in the Build Back Better bill.
“Every election cycle, Democrats want the Latine & immigrant community to come out and vote. It’s time they deliver on their promises,” Nayda Benitez, South Regional Organizer. “We recognize parole in place for what it is, a bandaid on a deep wound. Democrats need to deliver on their promises and not be limited by the parliamentarian’s suggestions. We cannot allow the opinion of a lone unelected staff attorney in the Senate to dictate the lives of millions of people. We need a pathway to citizenship for all and we need it now.”
We are committed to ensuring that our Members of Congress fulfill their promises instead of causing further harm and division in our communities. Senator Hickenlooper, Senator Bennet, and Colorado’s U.S. Representatives, you can still fulfill your campaign promise and create a pathway to citizenship before the year’s end.
“Parole in place is unjust and we shouldn’t let it pass. Families are tired of the promises and then nothing happens. We want to keep pushing for citizenship. We are not in favor of just a work permit,” said Lupe Lopez, CIRC member, about parole in place. “I’m tired and really frustrated, because it’s the Democrats who keep promising us things. We want them to work and move and actually support us and the community so that something BIG passes. We don’t want them to pass parole and just wash their hands of the issue.”
“In denying any possible pathway to citizenship or lawful permanent resident (LPRs) status, the Parliamentarian, an unelected official, is denying the economic impact of such legislation and the tributes that millions of undocumented individuals have paid to this country,” writes Representative Joe Neguse and dozens of his Congressional colleagues colleagues in a letter urging the Senate to disregard the advisory opinion of the Senate Parliamentarian.
Calls to action: Call or text your Reps TODAY to urge them to Vote to deliver historic pathways to citizenship in HR5376! Parole is a temporary status leaving people vulnerable to the political winds. Our communities insist on permanency and protection.
sign and share this letter page: https://secure.afsc.org/a/send-message-your-elected-officials-include-citizenship It includes specific targeted messages for each house member and both senators and is specific to Colorado.
Phone bank with NAKASEC on Tuesdays and Thursdays to continue asking our elected officials to deliver citizenship! Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesZYcYFWBbaTsVoPvHBwW52y9fx2BzpfP9OrrjS9xzgBwzog/viewform
Rally and art installation Tuesday Nov. 9th at 11:30 AM (961 Stout St, Denver, CO 80202), led by Colorado immigrant leaders demanding our elected officials to have the courage to fight for a path to Citizenship. Here is the facebook event, please share: https://www.facebook.com/events/412866270467421/
Resources:
Letter to disregard Parliamentarian’s suggestion
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The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) is a statewide, membership-based coalition of immigrant, faith, labor, youth, community, business and ally organizations founded in 2002 to improve the lives of immigrants and refugees by making Colorado a more welcoming, immigrant-friendly state.