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Congressional Hispanic Caucus Statement on President Biden’s Day One Immigration Executive Actions and Immigration Bill

January 20, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, President Joe Biden fulfilled his commitment to address our immigration system by unveiling immigration executive actions and sending an immigration bill, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, to Congress on Day One. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) will lead efforts to pass immigration reform this Congress and ensure it reaches President Biden's desk. Immigration Taskforce Chair Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), both CHC members, will introduce President Biden's immigration proposal in the House and Senate, respectively. CHC Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) released the following statement in response to President Biden's immigration executive actions and prioritization of immigration reform:

"For four years immigrant communities have endured constant attacks by the Trump Administration. The CHC embraces President Biden's delivery on his promise to turn the page and immediately address the real issues our country and Hispanic families are facing. President Biden's policies represent our values as a nation of immigrants. We applaud President Biden for delivering a humanitarian, fair, and efficient immigration bill that will help the economy and provide an earned pathway to citizenship for millions of people who help feed America and play a critical role in the prosperity of our nation," said Chairman Ruiz.

"Our country is at its strongest when we embrace our immigrant communities. President Biden's policy proposals will strengthen our economy, stabilize our labor market to grow businesses, and protect Medicare and Social Security by allowing workers to pay into those programs. Now more than ever, our country needs the contributions that immigrants make to our economy so that we can build back better. Today's executive actions undo many of Trump's most damaging policies, but there is still much work to be done to make the promise of America available to everyone in our country. The CHC welcomes President Biden's immigration executive actions and will work closely with our two incredible CHC leaders, Senator Menendez and Rep. Sanchez in leading immigration reform efforts in Congress to pass substantive legislation for immigrants once and for all."

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.