24 AUG 2023
Pennsylvania Mayors Call on Biden Administration to Fix Broken Immigration System, Provide Path Forward for Long-Settled Immigrants Amid Escalating GOP Extremism
Six mayors from across the state write, “these families belong to our communities and contribute greatly to our cultural and economic growth, and yet they have no lawful avenue to gain legal status”
To Read the Full Letter, Click Here.
PHILADELPHIA – Today, as reported by City and State, immigrant advocacy organization CASA led six Pennsylvania mayors from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, York, Lancaster and Erie to send a letter to the Biden administration urging the President to use his executive authority to break through congressional inaction and finally deliver solutions for immigrant families settled in the state and across the country. As extreme GOP leaders like Governors Ron DeSantis in Florida and Greg Abbott in Texas escalate their targeted attacks on immigrant communities, the signatories underscore the political and economic urgency of fixing our broken immigration system to ensure long-standing immigrants can continue to work and live in the U.S. The push comes as an April 2023 poll by Global Strategy Group revealed that a majority of voters support President Biden taking action to make it easier for undocumented immigrants, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, to apply for work permits and protection from deportation.
The letter specifically calls the Biden administration to: 1) urgently get ahead of the termination of DACA by streamlining existing legal processes for Dreamers and long-standing immigrant residents so they may gain legal status and work permits, 2) leverage the DHS Secretary’s parole and deferred action authorities to reduce family reunification backlogs and enable eligible undocumented immigrants to gain legal status through their family members - without being subjected to years-long delays, and 3) extend and expand Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations and redesignations for nationals in the U.S. who can’t safely return to Venezuela, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras.
The Pennsylvania leaders highlight how these policies would allow immigrants in the Keystone State to fill critical jobs amid a labor shortage and alleviate threats of being separated from their families. The letter calls on the administration to build upon its existing progress and respond to the needs of long-settled immigrants, pointing to Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address where he promised to humanely address the immigrant families who already call America home.
The letter signed by Mayors Kenney, Gainey, Cognetti, Helfrich, Sorace and Schember states:
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“In the absence of congressional action to deliver immigration reform legislation, hundreds of thousands of immigrant families, including Dreamers and essential undocumented workers who have contributed for years to our local communities and economy, continue to live with the fear of deportation. These families belong to our communities and contribute greatly to our cultural and economic growth, and yet they have no lawful avenue to gain legal status.”
“We urge you to take executive action within your authority to provide these families with access to legal protections that will allow them to remain with their family members, including their U.S. citizen children and loved ones. The threats to immigrant families continue to grow as extremist politicians propose policies that could ultimately upend their lives and impact the stability of our local communities and economy.”
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“In your 2023 State of the Union address, you rightly promised to proceed in a balanced fashion – to both secure our border and to humanely address the immigrant families who are already settled in America. We agree with you that legislation is the best way to fashion permanent solutions. However, extreme partisanship has stalled congressional action, leaving millions of Dreamers, essential undocumented workers, and immigrant families without a way to gain lawful status despite their immense contributions. Mr. President, please use every tool at your disposal to make our immigration system better.”
“We write from a state where immigrant workers and families are vital members of our communities. We live, work, pray and play with those who have come to America to build a better life for their families. We urge you to use your authority to make life better in our states by extending and expanding protections for our friends and neighbors.”
Signatories:
Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia
Ed Gainey, Mayor of Pittsburgh
Paige G. Cognetti, Mayor of Scranton
Michael Helfrich, Mayor of York
Danene Sorace, Mayor of Lancaster
Joseph V. Schember, Mayor of Erie
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