Today, there are roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants who have built their lives in the United States, but are barred from the stability and safety that a pathway to citizenship would provide. A majority of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and Congress has the power to make that happen.
Programs such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have given certain groups temporary protections to live, work, and attend school safely. However, these programs continue to face imminent legal threat – which is why a pathway to citizenship is key to giving folks permanent protections from deportation and detention.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, undocumented workers have been a signficant part of the essential workforce in health care, the farming industry, maintence, and more. Despite this, the vast majority of immigrants did not receive stimulus checks and remain barred from access to healthcare, driver’s licenses, higher education, and safety from deportation. Even so, all immigrants deserve the security a pathway to citizenship would provide – regardless of their health, language, or ability to provide essential labor.
The bottom line is that all human beings deserve to live with dignity and safety. Everyone deserves to live without the fear of separation from their families and livelihoods. By passing permanent protections through a pathway to citizenship, millions of people and their families who call this country home will be given the chance to thrive.
Add your name to our petition urging Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.