TALLAHASSEE, FL – FWD.us Florida State Director Ted Hutchinson issued the following statement today on the proposed U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, which would provide a much needed pathway to citizenship for our nation’s undocumented population, among other provisions:
“I congratulate the Biden-Harris Administration as they assume office and am hopeful for the progress to come. After four years of harmful anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies, I look forward to working with them and the new Congress to enact meaningful immigration reform. The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 is an important first step in providing a desperately-needed pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants who have been contributing to our communities for decades, while protecting legal immigration avenues and expanding opportunity for those seeking refuge.
“Florida is known for its rich immigrant history and for being a safe haven for people seeking asylum. Home to nearly 4.5 million immigrants who pay $31 billion in annual taxes, the Sunshine State’s 2.1 million immigrant essential workers are fighting on the pandemic frontlines as the virus continues to ravage our state. They are vital to our nation’s response and economic recovery. With three in four Americans on both sides of the aisle in support of a pathway to permanent legal status for all undocumented immigrants and our state’s immigrants sacrificing for us all each and every day, the time for reform is now.
“I am hopeful for the change that is to come and urge Congress to pass legislation such as the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. Creating a pathway to citizenship, among other much needed reforms to our broken immigration system, is long overdue. The Biden-Harris Administration must prioritize keeping families together and doing right by the millions of hardworking immigrants who have helped keep all of us safe and cared for during the COVID-19 pandemic. This critically-needed reform will benefit Florida’s communities and economy, and is integral to our COVID-19 recovery.”