Statement on Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee Hearing on Granting Citizenship to Essential Workers

For Immediate Release: May 12, 2021

Statement on Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee Hearing on Granting Citizenship to Essential Workers

Washington, DC – Today at 2:30 PM ET, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety will hold a hearing on “The Essential Role of Immigrant Workers in America”.

Bridgette Gomez, Campaign Director for the We Are Home Campaign issued the following statement:

“This is our opening salvo in a renewed push to make legalization and citizenship a reality for essential workers in the next 100 days — including DACA, TPS, and Farmworkers. They are the backbone of key sectors in our economy and valuable contributors to our nation. With the support of the majority of the American public, and the collective power of our movement, we will work with Democrats to ensure that we legalize as many people as possible after decades of inaction.

We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Padilla, Senator Menendez, Sen. Schumer, Speaker Pelosi and other Democrats who are working to advance this goal. Unlike what the Republicans may lead you to believe, the moment is now. There is a legislative path for immigration reform either through reconciliation or through the Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. We are ready to make sure our essential workers are able to live their lives with dignity and free from fear, and to that end we will hold both Democrats and Republicans accountable.”

We Are Home is a nationwide campaign to fight for immigrant communities on three fronts: prioritizing and demanding a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in America; a moratorium and overhaul of interior enforcement; and broad affirmative relief from deportation. We Are Home is co-chaired by Community Change/Community Change Action; National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA)/Care in Action; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); United Farm Workers/UFW Foundation; and United We Dream.

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