NPNA Commends Inclusion of Path to Citizenship in Budget Reconciliation Package

WASHINGTON – Last night, Senate Democrats passed a $3.5 trillion budget resolution that includes funding for a pathway to citizenship that is expected to cover Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, farmworkers and other essential workers. The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), a multi-ethnic coalition of the nation’s largest state-level immigrant advocacy organizations, commends Congressional Democrats for including a path to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants in the budget resolution and resisting amendments that called for narrowing this path based on an individual’s contact with the justice system. 

“Legalizing undocumented community members makes economic sense, but most importantly doing so makes moral sense. Our community members have spent decades working and contributing to this country and they deserve a path to citizenship,” said Nicole Melaku, executive director of NPNA. “Congressional Democrats have stepped up to this historic moment and opportunity by including that path in the reconciliation package. The NPNA network and our member organizations across the country stand ready to help the federal government implement any legalization effort to ensure as many community members as possible have the opportunity to become citizens of the only country they call home.”

As Congressional leaders continue to advance this important legislation — which includes numerous other social and climate priorities that would benefit immigrant communities — inclusivity and equity of its provisions must be prioritized. Democratic leaders should continue to oppose amendments that would limit eligibility for new immigration benefits based on an individual’s previous contact with the justice system, given the demonstrated racial and ethnic disparities often associated with criminal proceedings.