Washington, D.C. – Earlier this month, over 100 local immigrant rights and progressive organizations led by United We Dream signed letters urging President Biden to pass a pathway to citizenship this year. Organizations in key states like Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, New Mexico, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. all joined in signing on.
Juan Manuel Guzman, State Advocacy Director of United We Dream, said:
“Over 100 local organizations, led by United We Dream, signed on to regional letters to demand President Biden use every tool at his disposal to pass citizenship for immigrant youth, TPS holders, and farm and essential workers this year. The letter, sent to the White House earlier this month, demands President Biden keeps citizenship as a priority this year.
Immigrants have been crucial to our country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet have been largely left out of our recovery efforts. Citizenship is relief, and our communities need relief now! President Biden and Democrats have all the power, and must use it to pass a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented people by any means necessary.”
Karina Ruiz, Executive Director of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, said:
“Our communities are tired of empty promises, we need relief now. My father, Mauro Ruiz, passed away due to COVID-19 last year, waiting on a U-VISA to reunite with my siblings after 21 years. Due to the lack of action from Congress this reunification never happened. My mother survived COVID and our hope is that this administration and this Congress will finally provide a pathway to citizenship for families like mine, so we can reunite with our loved ones on the other side of the border. As a DACA recipient, I live in constant fear that my temporary protection could be taken away, especially as we wait for a decision from a court in Texas.
President Biden must deliver a pathway to citizenship for families like mine by any means necessary. We cannot continue waiting while our community continues to suffer in detention or being deported, and during this pandemic dying from Covid causing the pain of family separation.”
