Senate Parliamentarian Shoots Down Democrats’ Plan B for Legalizing Status of Immigrant Workers Who Sustain Our Economy
With Businesses Facing Critical Labor Shortages and Recent Bipartisan ABIC Poll Showing Even GOP/Trump Voters Want Immediate Immigration Solutions, Onus is On Congress to Pass A Bill This Year
WASHINGTON, DC — As Senate Democrats digest the latest rejection of their efforts to include immigration reforms in the pending budget reconciliation bill that is the vehicle for the Build Back Better initiatives, they must remember there is strong voter support across party lines for Congress to pass provisions that include paths to legal status for Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers, and essential workers, said Rebecca Shi, Executive Director of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC).
“American voters are much smarter than the professional politicians. With the Senate Parliamentarian rejecting a second option to allow immigration provisions in the budget bill, Congress must not use a legislative officer as an excuse for doing nothing,” Shi said. “There is no action that voters, including the majority of Trump voters, small businesses and farmers, are calling for more than passage of crucial immigration reforms, for the sake of our economy and immigrant families.
“It is time for Democrats to lead with force, and Republicans to stop being held hostage by a minority of their voters. The time to act is now,” Shi said.
The ABIC director noted recent bipartisan polling that showed voters are fatigued by the partisan games and obstacles to immigration reform. By a 3-to-1 margin, voters said they supported citizenship reforms through the reconciliation bill, without regard to whether it was through the citizenship provisions approved by the House Judiciary Committee, or under existing law that allows for immigrants to enter a ‘registry’ process, the two options rejected by the parliamentarian in recent days.
The bipartisan battleground poll fielded by Democratic Pollster Matt Barreto and Republican Pollster Daron Shaw that was released last week showed an overwhelming support for immigration reforms as a part of budget reconciliation, even if led by only one party, with strong support also coming from Republican voters, including Trump supporters. The pollsters also surveyed additional voters in Arizona, where the support was stronger.
“Voters are way ahead of politicians. That’s why by a margin of 70+, voters don’t trust the professional politicians of either party. Trump voters see through it. American voters see through it. They demand solutions not political gamesmanship,” ” Shi added.
ABOUT
The American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) promotes common sense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens. ABIC is active in key states and communities across the country engaging activists, advocates, business leaders and elected officials on the urgency of passing immigration reform that boosts our economy, creates jobs, eases the labor shortage and supports families.