Congresswoman Ramirez, Migrant Leaders Urge President Biden Expanded, Expedited Work Permits and Parole

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), joined by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (IL-D), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02), and a broad coalition of immigrant advocates and business and faith leaders, called on President Joe Biden to provide expedited work permits and parole in place for long-term undocumented immigrants across the nation.

During a press conference with the American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABICA), the Resurrection Project, Lincoln United Methodist Church, and American Families United, the members of Congress detailed that by expanding broad parole and work permits for immigrants, the Administration can: 

• Address the nation’s labor shortage holding back our economy
• Provide a path to financial stability for immigrants currently depending on federal resources
• Offer relief to sanctuary cities experiencing financial strain as they await adequate federal funding to meet the needs of new arrivals

“Sanctuary cities, like Chicago, are awaiting federal funding, businesses are struggling with a labor shortage, and Republicans are threatening the paralyzation of federal resources. Given these realities, the time is now to provide the broader immigrant community a safe and legal path to join the workforce, become financially stable, and fully contribute to the vitality of our communities. We applaud President Biden’s executive action to bring relief and opportunity to the Venezuelan community. Now, we urge the Administration to build upon that action with broad parole to keep families and communities together and to expedite work permits that address the labor shortage limiting our economy,” said Congresswoman Ramirez, Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee. “While Republicans are pushing our nation towards a shutdown that will hurt our economy and our communities, immigrants are ready to work and to be a solution to our current labor shortages.”

"Our country has a workforce crisis,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “I’ve heard from the restaurant association, the hospitality industry, childcare workers, hospitals, and they’re desperate for a workforce. The needs of our country and the answer could not be more clear; Congress must do its job and legislate. We have to help our families, to help our country, and by doing so we will grow our GDP, grow our economy, and have a competitive advantage around the globe when we do the right thing.”

“Long-term Immigrant contributors have sweated and paid taxes for decades to help sustain our economy and communities,” said Rebecca Shi, Executive Director of ABIC Action. “We call on President Biden to provide work permits and parole for these long-time U.S. residents to strengthen our economy and families.” 

“Work permits would bring urgent relief to millions who fight to make a living and contribute to our broader society every day,” said Erendira Rendón, Vice President of The Resurrection Project (TRP). “Our communities have done everything that’s been asked of us. But after decades of waiting, and with millions of unfilled jobs, it’s urgent for President Biden to follow broad political consensus and take swift action to make work permits a reality.”

“No parent should live in fear of picking up their children from school because they might be pulled over,” said Emma Lozano, Pastor, Lincoln United Methodist Church. “President Biden is a man of empathy and understands the pain and suffering from missing a loved one. He should lean into his best instincts and bring safety and dignity to these communities.”

“The president can act, and he should, for the sake of maintaining the unity of families, including the more than two million U.S. citizens in mixed-status families who find themselves ensnared in the broken immigration system,” said Ashley De Azevedo, President of American Families United (AFU), whose organization also represents military families with mixed status. “There is a significant moral necessity for the President to enact measures, such as expanding parole to all spouses of U.S. Citizens. For decades, Americans have been forced to choose between their spouse and their country. Through the President's parole authority he can end the separation of American families,” added De Azevedo, whose organization, AFU, also published a political memo making the case for broad work permits.

“Every day, Congressional gridlock on immigration costs our economy dearly,” said Sergio Suárez, President and CEO of Chicago-based North American Institute for Mexican Advancement (NAIMA) and Los Comales Restaurants. “Until Congress gets serious about passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill that fixes the broken system, it’s imperative that President Biden take administrative action to issue work permits for the long-term undocumented immigrant contributors who have helped sustain our economy but never had the benefit or dignity of a work permit. The 6 million Mexicans that are contributing and working across all industries for more than 30 years in this country, should not be overlooked.” 

For photos of the press conference, click here.

For a "live" of the press conference, click here. 

BACKGROUND:

The most recent reports of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce show that there are 9.8 million open jobs in industries such as hospitality, construction, health care, and agriculture, but only 5.9 million unemployed workers. At the same time, there are 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. If the labor shortage continues, there will be effects beyond the labor market, including potential increases in inflation, supply chain disruptions, and the stalling of Gross Domestic Product growth.

The Biden administration has granted parole and work permits to 541,000 Afghanis, Ukrainians, Venezuelans, and Cubans and is providing parole for the undocumented husbands, wives, and parents of U.S. military service members.