Washington, D.C. – Today, United We Dream launched a series of four videos demanding the Senate prioritize a pathway to citizenship for immigrant youth, TPS holders, and farm workers. The series is part of United We Dream’s Undeniable campaign and our efforts to fight for citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.
Each video asks viewers to call their U.S. Senators and demand they vote ‘YES’ on the Dream Act, Secure Act and Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would collectively provide a pathway to citizenship to over 5 million undocumented immigrant youth, TPS holders and farm workers.
The videos include Ana Karen, a DACA recipient and daughter of a farm worker in Northern California. Lily, a mother of two and TPS holder in Florida. Cindy, a DACA recipient and full time student in Maryland, and Selvin, a queer immigrant who came to the U.S. at 12 as an unaccompanied minor. All four would be put on a pathway to citizenship with the passage of the Dream, Secure, and Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the Senate.
Bruna Sollod, Communications Director of United We Dream, said:
“For far too long, undocumented communities have been denied basic human rights simply because of their immigration status, from lack of access to health care to better-paying jobs. These hardships have only been exacerbated under COVID-19, leaving millions of undocumented communities even more vulnerable to harm and even death. In our Undeniable storytelling video ad campaign, four undocumented people bravely share how the Dream, Secure and Farm Workforce Modernization bills would impact them and their family, and call on the Senate to immediately pass these bills.
Across the country, undocumented people like Ana Karen’s parents remain excluded from federal pandemic relief despite working in frontline jobs and continue to be at risk of detention and deportation at the hands of ICE and CBP. With the historic passage of the bipartisan Dream & Promise and Farm Workforce Modernization bills in the House in March, it’s time for the Senate to step up and deliver a pathway to citizenship for our communities and for people like Ana Karen and her father without delay. Any efforts to stall or block passage of the Dream, Secure and Farm Workforce Modernization bills in the chamber are not only deadly but blatant political stunts intended to keep immigrants as a subclass within society. Our videos serve to remind Senators what we all stand to gain if they lead and deliver.”
Ana Karen, Member of United We Dream, said:
“Growing up, I always knew that the threat of deportation was something that existed in my family. Despite having DACA, I still lost a sense of security knowing that my parents could have been taken away from me any time they left for work or to go to the grocery store. My dad has been a farm worker for almost 20 years in the Central Valley. Farm workers like my dad have sacrificed their lives to continue working and providing food for our communities amidst COVID-19. A pathway to citizenship for farm workers like my dad and young people like me would mean that we would finally have peace of mind in our homes and in our jobs.”
