Business, Faith, and Civic Leaders Launch National Week of Action To Urge Congress To Pass Immigration Solutions that Strengthen America’s Economy
Events planned in Washington, D.C. and across the country include press conferences, hearings, and in-person visits with lawmakers to ensure Congress takes action on immigration in 2021
WASHINGTON, DC — The American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) is launching a national Week of Action from July 19-23 to urge Congress to pass immigration solutions that will strengthen America’s economy and bring certainty to Dreamers, farmworkers, TPS holders, and the businesses that depend on them (see below for list of activities).
The Week of Action follows Judge Andrew Hanen’s decision last week that invalidated DACA and blocked access to the program for first-time applicants. The decision leaves more than 600,000 DACA recipients with an uncertain future.
More than 40 CEOs, university presidents, Dreamers, and farmers will visit Washington, D.C. while ABIC members across the country will host local events including press conferences and in-person meetings to deliver this message: whether through a bipartisan deal or through reconciliation, immigration solutions are needed in 2021 – inaction is unacceptable.
The coalition favors bipartisan immigration solutions currently awaiting Senate action including the Durbin-Graham DREAM Act of 2021, the Bennett-Crapo Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and the SECURE Act, which will strengthen America’s economy by expanding our workforce, and address critical labor shortages. Legislation that creates pathways to legal status and citizenship would bring certainty to families and employers, and help communities thrive.
The schedule for the ABIC public events includes:*
- MONDAY, JULY 19:
- More than 400 CEOs and University Presidents sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell urging passage of the bipartisan Durbin-Graham Dream Act.
- Retired Venezuelan baseball stars sent a letter today to Florida Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott urging them to co-sponsor the SECURE Act, which would provide a path to permanent residency to an estimated 650,000 TPS holders, including more than 320,000 Venezuelans, most of whom live in Florida.
- TUESDAY, JULY 20: Coalition members will take to social media to tell Senators that passing the bipartisan Durbin-Graham Dream Act of 2021 is economically important, morally right, and politically smart.
- WEDNESDAY, JULY 21:
- Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing titled Immigrant Farmworkers are Essential to Feeding America which will feature testimony from ABIC member and farmer Shay Myers, CEO of Owyhee Produce in Oregon and Idaho, whose need for more workers was recently featured on CBS Sunday Morning, as well as Linnea Kooistra, owner of Kooistra Farms, based in Illinois. Hearing will take place at 10 am EST at the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226. Click here for live feed.
- DREAM/TPS Press conference: immigrant youth will convene in Orlando for a press conference at 10 am EST titled “Florida Immigrant Youth For A Bipartisan Path Forward.” For more information please email arianny@impacfund.org.
- Capitol Hill press conference: ABIC will host a press conference at 3:30 PM EST (Capitol Grounds – Senate Side) with business, faith, education, and civic leaders, along with Dreamers and essential workers and members of Congress.
- THURSDAY, JULY 22: TPS holders and community leaders will deliver a letter to Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott in Washington, D.C. signed by more than 250 Venezuelan leaders and organizations.
- FRIDAY, JULY 23: Closing call to action: 2021 is the year of solutions. Inaction is unacceptable.
ABIC’s week of action is the culmination of months of public town halls, press conferences, and events as well as private meetings with elected officials from both parties, including with 41 Republicans, urging lawmakers to work across party lines to bring our immigration system into the 21st century.
* The advisory will be updated daily as events are finalized.
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.
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