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Statement

Moms Want Congress to Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform This Year, Despite Ruling from U.S. Senate Parliamentarian

September 20, 2021
Immigration

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Donna Norton, Executive Vice President of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the U.S. Senate parliamentarian’s ruling that immigration reform cannot be part of a reconciliation package:

“Last night’s ruling from the U.S. Senate parliamentarian was disappointing, but there is no question that the country is still relying on Congress to pass legislation that provides permanent protections and pathways to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, farm workers, and essential workers this year. Immigrants strengthen our communities and our country. Many have been risking their lives and doing heroic work during the pandemic to protect our health, care for our children and seniors, harvest and deliver our food, and keep our country functioning.

“This is not the end of our pursuit of a pathway to citizenship for these critical groups. This decision will not deter us. There are still other options members of Congress can take. We are confident they will continue to consider other approaches to ensure we deliver a pathway to citizenship for immigrants this year. 

“It is shameful that so many immigrants have been forced to live with uncertainty and fear of deportation and family separation for so long. It is well past time for that to end. Despite the parliamentarian’s ruling, America’s moms want Congress to provide immigrants with a pathway to citizenship this year.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.