U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 Gains Local Support

Latino Caucus of California Counties Announces Support of U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021

President Joe Biden’s proposed immigration legislation, known as the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 and introduced in Congress on Thursday, immediately won the strong support of the Latino Caucus of California Counties (LCCC).

The Latino Caucus of California Counties is an organization that works to provide solutions to issues and concerns, promotes Latino leaders, and provides value to the California State Association of Counties as well as to the Latino communities which they serve,

Biden’s proposal includes an eight-year path to citizenship for most of the roughly 11 million immigrants living illegally in the U.S., bolsters the nation’s refugee and asylum systems and calls for additional technology to be used to help secure the southern border.

Representative Linda Sánchez, a California Democrat, sponsored the bill in the House and New Jersey Democrat Bob Menendez is its chief sponsor in the Senate.

Menendez said Thursday during a virtual press conference that it’s time to go big on an immigration overhaul after calling former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies “a cornerstone of Trump’s hateful horror show.”

“It’s time to bring all 11 million undocumented out of the shadows,” he said, calling them essential workers who should not be left behind by piecemeal efforts. “We are not going to make concessions out of the gate. We are not going to start with 2 million.”

Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez is currently president of the LCCC.

“As the son of farmworkers, I understand firsthand the importance of a legitimate pathway to U.S. citizenship,” Perez said. “For far too long, undocumented immigrants have been taken advantage of in the workforce due to fears of being deported – this is especially true for farmworkers. The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 will finally provide a viable pathway to U.S. citizenship and ensure all those who came to this country to pursue the American Dream can fulfill that destiny. I commend U.S. Congresswoman Lindá Sanchez (CA-38) and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) for introducing the measure and President Joe Biden for his commitment to see it through.”

Specifically, this legislation will provide millions of undocumented immigrants with a viable pathway to earned citizenship, including those who identify as Dreamers, Temporary Protective Status (TPS) recipients, and essential workers who have made enormous sacrifices during the pandemic. This measure will also prioritize family reunification and keeping families together.

Additionally, this bill will also allow for the responsible and effective management of our borders through smart and strategic investments and also address root causes of migration that force people to leave Central America.

Ultimately, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 restores the United States of America’s commitment to human rights.