National Justice for Our Neighbors is thrilled that the U.S. Senate just passed a $3.5 trillion budget resolution that includes a pathway to citizenship. This would not have been possible without the hard work of undocumented people organizing and lifting their voices together to demand their place in this country.
Our network was among these voices—in June, we mobilized over 100 people across the U.S. in our #AllOfUS Campaign to lobby their legislators, write op-eds and host prayer vigils to join this unified messaging demanding a breakthrough that legalizes the 11 million undocumented people who now consider this nation their home.
The resolution would provide over $100 billion in aid to millions of Dreamers, people with Temporary Protected Status, farmworkers, and other essential workers to attain U.S. citizenship. The resolution now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration on August 23rd. We call for its quick passage in the House.
“Vote-a-Rama,” a Senate process that gives Senators the ability to introduce an unlimited number of amendments to the budget resolution, took place just this week as well. This process gave Republicans the opportunity to force votes on anti-immigrant amendments.
NJFON Advocacy Consultant Claudia Marchan reminds us:
“We have just witnessed what our collective voices can do when we stand for justice, hold our government accountable, and when we do not take no for an answer. Now we must keep up the pressure and urge our legislators that the resolution remain free of anti-immigrant amendments that would separate families and exclude the most vulnerable immigrant populations.
“We have been waiting far too long. It is time to stop criminalizing immigrant families and do what is right and humane—citizenship for ALL.”
* Editor’s Note: To learn more about this process and what YOU can do to help, please read this excellent column from Michael Gallego of Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors:
Immigration Reform in the Budget Reconciliation Bill: A Moment For Advocacy
