Last week, President Joe Biden delivered his first national address.
While the country tuned in for his remarks, I was listening for one thing: a commitment to creating a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants in this country. We heard him urge legislators to pass permanent protection for these immigrants that have had to live in uncertainty their entire lives.
But a president’s verbal commitment is not enough. Congress must also act with powerful leadership roles.
I have been working on this advocacy for the last nine months across the state of New Mexico with the Friends Committee on National Legislation, pushing for permanent solutions such as, HR6-The Dream and Promise Act. A solution comes from our members of Congress. They must take a leadership role, committing to prioritize permanent immigration reform that pushes for the American Dream everyone deserves.
Although there are many bills and many options in front of Congress, partisan polarization has made it almost impossible to move on any of them. I urge U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, Senator Ben Ray Lujan, and Senator Martin Heinrich to speak to Congressional leadership from both parties about including a pathway to citizenship in the upcoming infrastructure bill.
With only a majority vote needed to pass this bill, it is even more critical to be vocal and supportive now. This pathway to citizenship could be a reality in 2021.
Dayana Maldonado
Española