09 SEP 2021
UPDATED: Over 100 Mayors Across 30 States Urge White House and Congressional Leaders to Deliver Citizenship Via Budget Reconciliation
104 Mayors Send Updated Letter to President Biden, VP Harris, Majority Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi to Pass Citizenship for Immigrant Families, Day Prior to Senate Parliamentarian Meeting to Consider Inclusion in Budget Reconciliation
Washington, DC — Today, with 20 additional new signatories, 104 mayors sent an updated letter to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Majority Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi calling for pathways to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, essential workers, and their families via budget reconciliation. The additional 20 mayors signed on as immigration proposals are being considered on the Hill in the coming weeks, including a meeting with the Senate parliamentarian this Friday to hear arguments regarding the inclusion of immigration reform in budget reconciliation. Local officials have also recently joined the call for immigration action, with 715 local and state elected representatives sending a similar letter yesterday urging the passage of citizenship proposals in the budget reconciliation package.
Twenty additional mayors signed on:
Mayor Bryan Osorio, Delano, California
Mayor Steve Hofbauer, Palmdale, California
Mayor Justin Elicker, New Haven, Connecticut
Mayor Harry W. Rilling, Norwalk, Connecticut
Mayor Daniel Biss, Evanston, Illinois
Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Baltimore, Maryland
Mayor Timothy J. Adams, Bowie, Maryland
Mayor Rocio Treminio-Lopez, Brentwood, Maryland
Mayor Colin Byrd, Greenbelt, Maryland
Mayor Celina R. Benitez, Mount Rainier, Maryland
Mayor Thomas M. McGee, Lynn, Massachusetts
Mayor Daniel Corona, West Wendover, Nevada
Mayor Diana Murillo-Trujillo, Anthony, New Mexico
Mayor Alan Webber, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Mayor Svante Myrick, Ithaca, New York
Mayor Ben Walsh, Syracuse, New York
Mayor Lacey Beaty, Beaverton, Oregon
Mayor Eddie Moran, Reading, Pennsylvania
Mayor Indya Kincannon, Knoxville, Tennessee
Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Vancouver, Washington
An overwhelming majority of voters across the political spectrum support providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. 2021 is the year to deliver this path for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, farm workers and essential workers and their families who stepped up to support the country throughout the pandemic while contributing to local economies. This summer’s federal ruling against Dreamers underscores the urgency to deliver a path to citizenship for Dreamers and immigrant workers via budget reconciliation.
Mayors representing some of the largest emerging economies in the country are speaking out to move the momentum forward for citizenship. According to a recent study by the Center for American Progress and UC Davis Global Migration Center, providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farm workers, and essential workers would boost GDP by a cumulative total of $1.5 trillion over 10 years, create over 400,000 new jobs, and increase wages for all American workers by $600. Undocumented immigrants would also contribute an added $149 billion of spending power each year if they were U.S. citizens. This added income could result in an additional $39 billion in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes each year.
Full text of the letter from 104 mayors:
Dear President Biden, Vice President Harris, Majority Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi:
We, the undersigned mayors, respectfully request that you prioritize the inclusion of a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, essential workers, and their families in any economic recovery legislation including through budget reconciliation.
Today, there are an estimated 5 million undocumented immigrants working in construction, agriculture, food services and production, transportation, healthcare, and other essential industries who have risked their lives and the lives of their families to keep our nation running during one of the most challenging periods in modern history.
As our state and local communities continue to confront a public health and economic catastrophe that has claimed more than 500,000 lives and exacerbated deep racial and economic inequities, it is vital that Congress enact protections for Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential immigrant workers to secure the health of our nation and to lay the foundation for an equitable economic recovery for all communities across the country.
Providing a path to citizenship for these individuals and their families not only recognizes the sacrifices they have made for all Americans over the past year, but also the important role they continue to play in America’s economic recovery and long-term global competitiveness.
It’s time for Congress to act. The only way we can truly Build Back Better is to ensure that Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers are included in any economic recovery legislation including through budget reconciliation.
Sincerely,
Mayor Randall L. Woodfin, Birmingham, Alabama
Mayor Regina Romero, Tucson, Arizona
Mayor Jesse Arreguin, Berkeley, California
Mayor Mary Casillas Salas, Chula Vista, California
Mayor Bryan Osorio, Delano, California
Mayor Robert Garcia, Long Beach, California
Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles, California
Mayor Libby Schaaf, Oakland, California
Mayor Steve Hofbauer, Palmdale, California
Mayor Tom Butt, Richmond, California
Mayor Todd Gloria, San Diego, California
Mayor Sam Liccardo, San José, California
Mayor Mike Coffman, Aurora, Colorado
Mayor Sam Weaver, Boulder, Colorado
Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Denver, Colorado
Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc, East Hartford, Connecticut
Mayor Justin Elicker, New Haven, Connecticut
Mayor Harry W. Rilling, Norwalk, Connecticut
Mayor Steve B. Wilson, Belle Glade, Florida
Mayor Tamara James, Dania Beach, Florida
Mayor Lauren Poe, Gainesville, Florida
Mayor Hazelle Rogers, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Mayor Ken Thurston, Lauderhill, Florida
Mayor Dan Gelber, Miami Beach, Florida
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County, Florida
Mayor Wayne M. Messam, Miramar, Florida
Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime, North Miami, Florida
Mayor Sally B. Philips, South Miami, Florida
Mayor Mike Ryan, Sunrise, Florida
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta, Georgia
Mayor Lauren McLean, Boise, Idaho
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Chicago, Illinois
Mayor Daniel Biss, Evanston, Illinois
Mayor Rick Sowers, Dodge City, Kansas
Mayor Greg Fischer, Louisville, Kentucky
Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Baltimore, Maryland
Mayor Timothy J. Adams, Bowie, Maryland
Mayor Rocio Treminio-Lopez, Brentwood, Maryland
Mayor Patrick Wojahn, College Park, Maryland
Mayor Colin Byrd, Greenbelt, Maryland
Mayor Celina R. Benitez, Mount Rainier, Maryland
Mayor Jeffrey Slavin, Somerset, Maryland
Mayor Kate Stewart, Takoma Park, Maryland
Mayor Kim Janey, Boston, Massachusetts
Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer, Framingham, Massachusetts
Mayor Thomas M. McGee, Lynn, Massachusetts
Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Somerville, Massachusetts
Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit, Michigan
Mayor Karen Majewski, Hamtramck, Michigan
Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Mayor Kurt Metzger, Pleasant Ridge, Michigan
Mayor Jacob Frey, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mayor Melvin Carter, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, St. Louis, Missouri
Mayor Daniel Corona, West Wendover, Nevada
Mayor Steven M. Fulop, Jersey City, New Jersey
Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Newark, New Jersey
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, Plainfield, New Jersey
Mayor Mark Freda, Princeton, New Jersey
Mayor Brian P. Stack, Union City, New Jersey
Mayor Timothy M. Keller, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Mayor Diana Murillo-Trujillo, Anthony, New Mexico
Mayor Alan Webber, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Mayor Javier Perea, Sunland Park, New Mexico
Mayor Byron W. Brown, Buffalo, New York
Mayor Svante Myrick, Ithaca, New York
Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York, New York
Mayor Lovely A. Warren, Rochester, New York
Mayor Ben Walsh, Syracuse, New York
Mayor Esther Manheimer, Asheville, North Carolina
Mayor Rennie W. Brantz, Boone, North Carolina
Mayor Ian Baltutis, Burlington, North Carolina
Mayor Lydia Lavelle, Carrboro, North Carolina
Mayor Pam Hemminger, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Mayor Steve Schewel, Durham, North Carolina
Mayor Jennifer Weaver, Hillsborough, North Carolina
Mayor TJ Cawley, Town of Morrisville, North Carolina
Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, Raleigh, North Carolina
Mayor Lacey Beaty, Beaverton, Oregon
Mayor Emily Marburger, Bellevue, Pennsylvania
Mayor Timothy A. Scott, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Mayor Joseph Schember, Erie, Pennsylvania
Mayor James F. Kenney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mayor William Peduto, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mayor Eddie Moran, Reading, Pennsylvania
Mayor Paige G. Cognetti, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Mayor Marita Garrett, Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, Providence, Rhode Island
Mayor Tim Kelly, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Mayor Indya Kincannon, Knoxville, Tennessee
Mayor Jim Strickland, Memphis, Tennessee
Mayor John Cooper, Nashville, Tennessee
Mayor Steve Adler, Austin, Texas
Mayor Eric Johnson, Dallas, Texas
Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston, Texas
Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake City, Utah
Mayor Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake County, Utah
Mayor Levar Stoney, Richmond, Virginia
Mayor Cassie Franklin, Everett, Washington
Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, Seattle, Washington
Mayor Victoria R. Woodards, Tacoma, Washington
Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Vancouver, Washington
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Madison, Wisconsin###
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