Washington, D.C. – United We Dream and 58 civil-rights and advocacy organizations sent an open letter to Senator Schumer, urging Democratic leadership in Congress to firmly support immigrant communities by focusing on solutions that protect immigrant rights and don’t hurt others.
The letter, signed by national organizations such as the Working Families Party, Center for Popular Democracy, March for Our Lives, Gen Z for Change, Sunrise Movement, Muslim Advocates, and many others, expressed their disappointment with Democratic leadership for shifting its priorities and succumbing to MAGA Republicans’ fear-mongering and divisive tactics, including proposing unprecedented funding for detention and deportation, implementing domestic anti-immigrant policy changes, and providing unrestricted support for militarization abroad.
Bruna Sollod, Senior Political Director for United We Dream, said:
“Democratic leadership cannot permit MAGA anti-immigrant agenda, which continues to be controlled by Trump, to guide policymaking in Congress. The supplemental funding debate exposed a troubling shift in Democratic priorities towards the right, falling prey to extreme right-wing rhetoric and white nationalist ideals that threaten to undermine the most basic principles of democracy and contribute to the rise of authoritarianism both globally and domestically.
Trading immigrant lives as a political concession sets us on a slippery, dangerous slope that could lead to compromises on other existential issues for our communities, including reproductive justice, criminal legal reforms, government benefits, trans rights, workers’ rights, housing rights, and more. The progressive movement is united in holding Democratic leadership accountable for ensuring a humane immigration system that expands pathways for people seeking refuge and offers immigrant youth and undocumented immigrants citizenship after 40-plus years of neglect and empty promises. We know sensible and humane policy can hold both priorities and the communities we all represent deserve no less.”
