Immigrant ARC Statement on President Joe Biden’s Joint Address to Congress
Contact: Alexandra Russo
press@immigrantarc.org
518-898-0456
www.immigrantarc.org
Albany, NY; April 29, 2021 - Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) Executive Director Camille Mackler issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s Joint Address to Congress.
“President Biden’s speech last night was disappointing and a missed opportunity to move the country out of the stalemate on immigration that has lasted far too long. In an address of over an hour, which highlighted America’s intention to Build Back Better and return to a leadership role on the global stage, the President repeatedly failed to highlight how immigration and, more importantly, immigrants will play a crucial role in meeting that goal. Immigration policy impacts climate change, economic recovery, the fight for racial justice, the push back on autocracy, and so many other areas the President spoke about. Yet when it came to immigration, he stuck to the same talking points, pushing border security first even though the border is secure, making the same broad promises we have heard since November without more concrete calls to action, and failing to reframe the conversation away from the deterrence-first model of the last thirty years and towards the more humane and moral system he envisioned on January 20th, 2021.
Now is the time for decisive action - for bold steps to protect DREAMers, Temporary Protected Status holders, agricultural workers, yes, but also all of our immigrant communities. This includes the 11 million undocumented immigrants who have suffered some of the worst impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic, even as they worked on the frontlines to get our country through it. It includes the thousands of immigrants detained behind bars in a system that does not afford them a right to an attorney or a fair day in court. It includes the millions of mothers, fathers, children, friends, neighbors, and co-workers who make America better already, and who deserve to be included in the vision for its future.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State and working on increasing access to justice for all.
