Congresswoman Ramirez Blast Republicans’ Efforts to Scapegoat Asylum Seekers

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) took to the House Floor to call out Republicans’ irrational and irresponsible rejection of popular, common-sense policies that could address immigration. During the debate of H R. 5283, legislation to prohibit communities from using federal lands to provide emergency refuge for asylum seekers, Ramirez pointed out how this legislation is another attempt by Republicans to scapegoat immigrants and divert attention from their own failed policies. 

“Despite Republican best efforts to cut funding for the protection of our land, gut social safety net services, and bankrupt our federal infrastructure, now they want us to believe that providing emergency refuge and services to asylum seekers is what's causing all our economic problems,” said Congresswoman Ramirez.  

During her time, Ramirez reminded her colleagues that expedited work permits and a pathway to legal status – for new arrivals and those who have been here for years – have been deferred for decades, denying millions the opportunity they seek to strengthen our communities.  

“Immigrants are not the problem! They are the solution. They are an asset to our communities and local economies,” added Congresswoman Ramirez. “There are 11.5 million people ready to help fill the almost 9 million open jobs disrupting the supply chain and increasing inflation. Immigrants are ready to invest in housing markets and grow local economies to the benefit of the 245 million Americans living in counties with shrinking populations. Immigrants are ready to increase our national GDP by up to $1.7 trillion over the next decade.”

For Floor Remarks, click HERE.

BACKGROUND:

As the proud daughter of immigrants, the wife of a Dreamer, representative of IL-03, and the Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez has worked tirelessly to humanely address immigration, bring resources back to the district and has stood against the constant scapegoating of immigrant communities throughout her first year of serving in Congress. 

• Congresswoman Ramirez is co-leading the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act, legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients.
• Ramirez has joined a broad coalition of immigrant advocates and business and faith leaders to call on President Joe Biden to provide expedited work permits and parole in place for long-term undocumented immigrants across the nation.
• On September 29, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez took to the floor to speak against the Republican Continuing Resolution,  H.R. 5525, the Spending Reduction and Border Security Act. The legislation conditioned funding to the government on the implementation of hurtful border policies that endangered and criminalizes immigrants and asylum seekers. Congresswoman Ramirez also presented a motion to recommit the bill and called on her colleagues to vote against it. The legislation failed.
• Congresswoman led colleagues of Illinois, New York, and California delegations on a congressional letter echoing the requests made by the mayors of Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York City, urging the Biden Administration to ensure interior cities receive at least $5 billion in federal resources and support needed to provide shelter and essential life-saving services to asylum seekers.
• On November 15, Ramirez also sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging legislators to avoid using immigrants as a bargaining chip during budget negotiation,  abandon three decades of failed policy, and address immigration beyond the border.