28 OCT 2021

Hub Highlights: Congress and President Biden Make Strides Towards Long-Awaited Immigration Reform

Washington, DC — This week, Democrats announced the framework for the sweeping Build Back Better bill, including $100 billion committed to immigration reform. The milestone comes as state and local officials, Latino leaders, and advocates have continued to pressure Democrats to deliver lasting protections for undocumented communities as part of the reconciliation legislation. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a memorandum on ‘protected areas’ for immigration enforcement, expanding the list of locations, previously known as ‘sensitive sites’.

The Build Back Better Legislation Framework Includes Immigration Reform

After weeks of negotiations and mounting pressure, congressional Democrats announced this week an agreement on the framework for the Build Back Better (BBB) reconciliation bill that includes immigration reform in the form of a registry date change that would allow undocumented immigrants who have been in the United States before 1972 to apply for a green card. According to a recent Hub poll, this proposal is supported by more than two in three battleground voters. The framework ensures that inclusion of lasting protections for undocumented immigrants remains an essential part of the bill as Senate Democrats prepare to meet with the Senate Parliamentarian on a new proposal outlining an immigration permit program for more than 7 million undocumented immigrants.

Kerri Talbot, Deputy Director of the Immigration Hub, stated: “Senate Democrats are continuing efforts to work with the Senate parliamentarian on a new immigration permit program for 7 million undocumented immigrants. While we have been disappointed by previous opinions, we are confident the new plan falls squarely under the Senate rules and addresses the Parliamentarian’s concerns regarding previous proposals. Democrats should remain steadfast in their commitment to provide lasting protections for undocumented immigrants. This week’s announcement of the inclusion of immigration in the BBB framework is a vital step forward and opens the way for Democrats to get this done once and for all.”

DHS Announces Comprehensive Policy On “Protected Areas”

This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new guidance on “protected areas'' in immigration enforcement that ensures DHS officials factor in the type of location prior to enforcement, allowing undocumented immigrants greater access to critical services without fear of being arrested. Replacing previous policy on sensitive locations, the new expanded list of locations, now considered “protected areas”, includes hospitals, schools, places of worship and vaccination sites. The announcement aligns with other measures taken by the Biden Administration to transition to a more humane immigration system and protect the dignity and rights of immigrants, including a recent memo banning worksite raids. 

Sergio Gonzales, Executive Director of the Immigration Hub, stated: “We commend Secretary Mayorkas for underscoring our shared value that all people deserve dignity and security in accessing basic human services. The new DHS guidance on ‘protected areas’ centers the rights of immigrants in the U.S. to seek medical care, education, food, shelter, and worship.  While there is still need for greater oversight and accountability of ICE and CBP agents, including ensuring they adhere to the new policy restrictions, this marks a much-needed and essential change that serves as one of many building blocks to a more humane immigration system. 

"Nowhere in America should any family have to fear being separated from their children in places where they worship or seek relief or medical aid. Decades of failures and inaction have made clear that immigration policy rooted in fear and deterrence does not work and contravenes our values. This policy is important progress to undoing the cruelty of the past, and we look forward to the administration’s continued work to rebuild trust with immigrant communities.”

More Highlights to Follow:

Latino leaders and members of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus demand Congressional Democrats deliver lasting protections for undocumented immigrants in the Build Back Better bill. 

  • Last week, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and national Latino civil rights leaders held a press conference at the U.S. Capitol to demand the Build Back Better bill deliver lasting protections for undocumented communities. As Senate Democrats propose a new plan that provides legal status and work authorization to nearly 7 million undocumented immigrants via the reconciliation package, this conference sent a clear message that Latinos are unafraid to leverage their political power to demand immigration solutions this year.

    • “Latinos have a loud, crystal clear message to those in Congress: we are done waiting,” said Sergio Gonzales, Executive Director, Immigration Hub. “Promises are not enough. We heard promises in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2013, and we never got the protections our communities need. Latinos fueled victory in 2020 and proved to be the new swing voter, and we will not accept any more excuses. ”

40+ organizations joined the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) in a letter calling on the Biden Administration to provide protections for undocumented workers and their families. 

  • The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda sent a letter addressed to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, and Sen. Schumer, asking all four leaders to do everything in their power to enact strong protections for undocumented immigrant workers before next year’s midterms. The letter was co-signed by over 40 member organizations including Voto Latino, Mi Familia Vota, and UnidosUS. 

James D. Gailliard, senior pastor and Democratic member of the House of Representatives of North Carolina representing Nash County, urged Congress to pass “common-sense” immigration reform before it’s too late. 

  • In an op-ed published in The Enterprise, Rep. Gailliard wrote: 

    • “North Carolina has long benefited from the invaluable economic and social contributions of our immigrant communities, communities with origins in Africa, Europe, Latin America and all corners of the globe. Providing lasting protections for these and other undocumented workers is a moral imperative given their contributions; but in addition to our moral obligation to care for our neighbor, not doing so would also be damaging to the strength of our communities and economy. As a people and a community, we should expect compassionate and common-sense immigration policies from our leaders in Washington.”

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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.