NPNA Applauds House Passage of Budget Resolution, Calls for Swift Action to Finalize Path to Citizenship for All Undocumented Immigrants

WASHINGTON – Today, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives 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 House Democratic leadership for joining their counterparts in the Senate in voting to bring security and stability to the lives of millions of undocumented immigrants. 

“The time is now to legalize undocumented community members who have spent decades working and contributing to this country. All immigrants in our country deserve a path to citizenship. Providing this pathway to citizenship is not only a moral imperative but also makes economic sense for the future of our country,” 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 must ensure that we’re not excluding people based on previous contact with a criminal justice system that is rife with racial and ethnic disparities. They must also ensure that a path to citizenship is accompanied by the immigration legal services necessary to get newly eligible immigrants to apply,” Melaku added.