21 DECEMBER 2020

Immigration Hub: COVID-19 Compromise Bill Provides Cash Payments for Mixed-Status Families, Falls Short of Comprehensive Efforts to Support Struggling Families, Including Immigrants

WASHINGTON, DC — Below is a statement from Kerri Talbot, Director of Federal Advocacy of the Immigration Hub, in response to the COVID-19 relief bill unveiled by Congress:

“Seven months after the House passed the HEROES Act, a comprehensive coronavirus relief bill to provide health care and economic protections for all communities, Congressional leaders today unveiled a compromise bill that provides assistance for some immigrant families while denying checks to many essential workers and taxpayers. 

“We are relieved to see that mixed-status immigrant families will finally receive stimulus payments as part of this negotiated bill. Given there are 5.5 million immigrants working at the front lines of this crisis as essential workers, Congress should provide protection to all tax filers in the U.S. regardless of immigration status. 

“As the nation faces a rising death toll and economic challenges, we urge Congress to continue prioritizing all families and critical workers on the frontlines, including millions of immigrants risking their lives to feed, serve, and care for all Americans. By explicitly including immigrant families in the collective effort to combat the consequences of this pandemic, we all benefit and prevail as a stronger nation.

“The bill provides funding for the border wall which is a ridiculous capitulation to the Trump era but we are hopeful that a new direction in border management will prevail soon with the incoming Biden administration.”

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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.