García, Espaillat, Correa, Soto Urge the Biden Administration to Expand Parole and Work Permits for Migrants

WASHINGTON, DC— Congressmen Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Lou Correa (CA-46) and Darren Soto (FL-09) led 35 congressional colleagues in a letter urging the Biden administration to expand parole and work permits to both new migrants and long term contributing immigrant workers. Currently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) faces a significant backlog in processing the application for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), sometimes as long as 15 months.

“We urge your Administration to provide humanitarian parole and work permits to both recent migrants and those who have resided in the U.S. for decades; immigrants who have worked and paid local, state, and federal taxes, but without the freedom that comes with a work permit issued by immigration authorities. Not only have they contributed to our economy and culture, but they also have raised U.S.-born children, many of whom are now also tax-paying citizens. This can be one of the more sensible solutions, which are key to addressing America’s labor shortages and lowering inflation,” stated the Members.

“While we acknowledge the ongoing efforts of USCIS to address the backlogs more generally by developing technology and hiring additional staff, the backlogs and delays in the EAD application processing persists. As a result, these delays have contributed to uncertainty on the lives of asylum seekers and parolees, as well as their potential employers and their local economies. At the same time, employers face a historic labor shortage. Addressing the work permit backlog will help provide work permits as soon as possible while expanding the workforce at this critical time,” they continued.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 9.6 million job openings in March of 2023. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has stated that between 20 and 60 percent of jobs remained unfilled in key work sectors including manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, financial services, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality. 

Co-signers of the letter include: Representatives NanetteBarragán (CA-44), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), André Carson (IN-07), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29),  Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Teresa Leger-Fernandez (NM-03), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), James McGovern (MA-02), Grace Meng (NY-06), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Donald Payne (NJ-10), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Frederica Wilson (FL-24)

This letter is endorsed by: American Business Immigration Coalition, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, UnidosUS, OXFAM, Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, American Business Coalition, Justice for Migrant Women, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), CASA, Latino Policy Forum, American Immigration Council, National Immigrant Law Center, Immigration Hub, Sí Se Vota Chicanos Por La Causa Action Fund, The Resurrection Project, Instituto Del Progreso Latino, Made in Venezuela Business Club, Network of Casas de Venezuela in the United States, Fundación Casa de Venezuela Orlando, Initiativa Acción Puertorriquena, North American Institute for Mexican Advancement, HOPE Community Center, Alianza for Progress, Alianza Center, Venezuelan American Caucus, Southwest Organizing Project, Poder Latinx, Mission Talk, Florida Fellowship of Hispanic Councils and Evangelical Institutions, Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, Centro Romero, Chicago Community and Workers' Rights, Blancarte Strategies, Syrian Community Network, Illinois Unidos, RefugeeOne, Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project, Allapattah Collaborative CDC, Partners for Our Communities, JCFS Chicago, Metropolitan Family Services, Hispanic Federation, Immigrant Solidarity Dupage, World Relief, Community Health, Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church Chicago, Alice Cottingham & Associates LLC, Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services.

Click here to read the full letter.

# # #