The Fight is Not Over - Asian Americans Advancing Justice Urges Confidence Despite Parliamentarian's First Ruling on Legalization

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Sunday, the Senate Parliamentarian recommended against including in the FY 22 Budget Reconciliation Package an initial proposal for a roadmap to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, essential workers, and farmworkers. 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice, an affiliation of five independent Asian American civil rights organizations, issues the following statement:

“We are disappointed with this initial ruling but remain confident that alternative proposals and subsequent rulings can deliver urgent relief for millions of people and their families. The stakes are high for over 1.7 million Asian undocumented immigrants, TPS holders, and essential workers who have served on the frontlines of this ongoing pandemic and are crucial to the heart of our economy. We urge Congress to take all viable avenues to secure a roadmap to citizenship this year.

While we will continue our fight for justice, the Parliamentarian has not yet ruled on the inclusion of key provisions pertinent to Asian immigrants, such as clearing the family and employee-based visa backlogs and providing green cards to diversity visa program lottery winners who could not receive them due to the Trump Administration’s immigration bans. Moreover, the decision hints that these provisions may be in a strong position for future inclusion in reconciliation. We are eager to hear positive rulings on these provisions and will maintain our advocacy on all fronts. The fight is not over. We will continue to stand in solidarity with immigrant communities across the country until we win.”