Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better infrastructure bill, which would include investments in affordable housing, childcare, action on climate change, and immigration reform. Below is a statement from Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of Justice Action Center:
“The Build Back Better bill passed in the House today would improve life for all of us living in the United States for years to come. On immigration, the bill includes a more than $100 billion investment in relief through parole and visa recapture. These provisions would provide a measure of protection for millions of immigrants by providing temporary status and the recapture of as many as 500,000 otherwise unused visas allowing family members to reunite without having to wait additional years on end.
“However, as directly impacted, grassroots immigrant organizations have made clear, these communities need and deserve permanent protections. House Democrats’ rejection of including a pathway to citizenship in this bill is a huge disappointment and missed opportunity. The Senate must now include a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented folks living and working in the United States.”
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Justice Action Center (JAC) is a new nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting for greater justice for immigrant communities by combining litigation and storytelling. JAC is committed to bringing additional litigation resources to address unmet needs, empower clients, and change the corrosive narrative around immigrants in the U.S. Learn more at justiceactioncenter.org.