WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Build Back Better Act tonight. The legislation includes immigration relief that could keep millions of families together and boost the U.S. economy by billions of dollars. FWD.us President Todd Schulte issued the following statement urging members to vote YES on the Build Back Better Act:
“After decades of disappointments, Congress cannot miss this opportunity to pass urgently-needed immigration relief that would improve the lives of millions of American families across our country. Providing work permits and deportation protections would allow people with longstanding ties to our communities to stay safe and together with their families, work without fear of abuse and exploitation, and reunite with loved ones they have been separated from for decades. We urge all members to vote yes on the Build Back Better Act given the inclusion of these provisions.
“While this legislation would create meaningful opportunities and make life better for millions of people who have done so much in service of our country, we know it falls short of the pathway to citizenship that is needed. We will not stop fighting to achieve a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants until that becomes a reality.
“Today’s vote is a vital step forward. Families across America cannot keep living in fear and uncertainty while Congress fails to bring them relief. We have more work to do, but every Member of Congress must vote to pass the Build Back Better Act.”
Background
Earlier today, FWD.us launched a new national ad featuring Wilna, a Haitian TPS Holder and mother, as part of its seven-figure ad campaign in Washington, DC and key states amid a massive legislative push to pass immigration relief as part of the reconciliation package moving through Congress. Wilna and her family live in central Florida. Another ad released earlier this month, “Tired Of Waiting,” features Jaime Rangel, a DACA recipient who came to the U.S. when he was just six months old, grew up in Dalton, and is father to a U.S. citizen son.
New polling has found that immigration relief included in the Build Back Better Act is overwhelmingly popular, with support from more than 80% of people across the country.
New FWD.us analysis estimates that approximately 18 million, or about 1 in 20, U.S. residents live in households with at least one impacted member by the Build Back Better act. This includes 8.7 million U.S. citizens, of which 4.4 million are eligible to vote in 2022.
Additionally, FWD.us analysis estimates that the proposed immigration relief for those who have lived in the U.S. for a decade or more would allow upwards of 7 million undocumented immigrants to apply for protection from deportation and work permits. Deportation protections would allow families to live safe and together in the United States with their families, while providing them long-overdue stability. And with work permits, these individuals would increase their contributions to the economy and to federal, state and local taxes by billions of dollars each year, including multi-billion dollar expansions in several states.
Senate Democrats are very optimistic about the ability to include immigration relief that provides work permits and deportation protection in the reconciliation package. The Senate Parliamentarian will be providing informal guidance on this proposal in the next few days. She appears open to green lighting this proposal. Details on the impact of providing work permits and protection from deportation can be found here.