Congressman García Joins Rally Urging President Biden to Expand Work Permits for All

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García joined immigration advocates, business leaders and community members in Washington to call on President Biden to take immediate action to expand parole, work permits, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for migrants.

“Many of my constituents have worked and paid taxes for years, but still live without the protection and stability that comes from a work permit,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García. “I was proud to join organizers, advocates, and constituents who have traveled to Washington today to urge President Biden to use his authority and expand access to work permits.”

Rebecca Shi, executive director of ABIC Action, said "Immigrant workers are essential to the U.S. economy. We urge President Biden to immediately provide work permits to long-term immigrant contributors to strengthen America's economy and reduce the cost of food and housing for all Americans. The time to act is now!"

“America is known as a ‘shining city on a hill’ in large part due to its history of welcoming waves of immigrants who continue to make enormous contributions to its social fabric and economy. This country has a moral obligation to support those who have invested their time and talent and are paying taxes to strengthen this nation,” said Eréndira “Ere” Rendón, vice president of Immigrant Justice for The Resurrection Project in Chicago. “Issuing work permits to both long-term and recently arrived immigrants is a solution to President Biden’s goal of building a stronger and more inclusive economy from the bottom-up and the middle out. Our ability to remain a beacon for others depends on our ability to act as a nation erected by immigrants. Mr. President, allow it to build its greatness further; authorize more work permits now!”

“Immigrants have lived here for decades, creating homes, raising families and building futures. Some are even grandparents looking at their golden years without knowing what tomorrow will bring,” stated Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA, the national organization serving Black, Latine, Indigenous and Immigrant communities. “At the heart of this country is the respect and dignity that everyone who lives here deserves — the minimum standard is work authorization that opens safety and security, though temporary it is. We look to President Biden to use the full authority of his office and move on work authorizations, including temporary protected status.”

Pictures of the event can be found here.

On Friday, July 21, Representative García, Lou Correa (CA-46) Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), 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. The letter,endorsed by 50 business and immigration organizations, can be found here.  

Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García led 28 Illinois elected officials in a letter to President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas asking the administration to provide more federal resources and take executive action to continue providing for long-term and recent migrants. The letter has also been endorsed by 62 Illinois community and service organizations.

# # #