07 AUG 2022

Immigration Hub’s Gonzales on the Passage of Inflation Reduction Act: “Our work is not done.”

WASHINGTON, DC - After the conclusion of vote-a-rama and Senate Democrats’ vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Sergio Gonzales, Executive Director of the Immigration Hub, issued the following statement:  

“Today, Senate Democrats and not a single Republican Senator voted to pass a historic package that will lower healthcare costs for families and take action to address our climate crisis. As the country grapples with record heat waves, severe flooding, and rising temperatures as a result of climate change and millions of families still lack access to quality healthcare and struggle with rising cost of prescription drugs, there is no doubt Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act is badly needed. 

“However, just as we had anticipated, in the wee hours of the night, GOP Senators offered anti-immigrant poison-pill amendments designed to kill this legislation— but Democrats refused to play along. Instead, Senate Democrats firmly rejected the GOP’s extreme agenda to end our asylum system indefinitely and build Trump’s border wall. We thank Senators Menendez (D-NJ) and Padilla (D-CA), in particular, for leading the charge as Democrats stood up to Senate Republicans who wanted to close the doors to vulnerable asylum seekers and divide our communities. By refusing to entertain Republicans’ political theater, Democrats sent a strong and clear message: our nation’s immigration system should not be at the mercy of unscrupulous Republican politicians who want to use immigrants as pawns to score political points.

“As we celebrate the passage of this historic legislation and the relief it will bring American families, we commend Democrats for standing united against GOP attacks on our asylum system and immigrant communities but also acknowledge that Democrats’ work is not done. It’s simply not enough for Democrats to play defense to GOP attacks, especially when the lives of millions, including our nation’s Dreamers and essential farmworkers, hang in the balance. With the control of the Senate, House, and White House, it is time for Democrats to put forward policies that protect Dreamers and farmworkers, reinforce the American workforce, secure and strengthen our immigration system, and recognize the hard work and contributions of families, communities and small businesses to the American economy. While Republicans refuse to offer solutions, the majority of Americans support fair, humane immigration reforms and with this mandate, it’s time for Democrats to act and move these reforms forward.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.