Issued September 19, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC - SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry issued the following statement on the Senate Parliamentarian’s ruling that a path to citizenship does not meet requirements to be included in the reconciliation package:
“SEIU strongly disagrees with this ruling. Fortunately, it isn’t the final word. Senate Democrats have been planning for this possibility, and there are alternative approaches to legalizing undocumented immigrants as part of the reconciliation package, which is overwhelmingly supported by the American people. The next step is for Senate Democrats to move forward with one of those alternatives.
“For decades, DACA recipients, TPS holders and other undocumented immigrants have been living in fear that they may one day be forced to leave the only country they call home. That should never be the case. Immigrants are our care workers, doctors, teachers, office and hospital cleaners, first responders, neighbors, colleagues and so much more. Millions of them have risked their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they deserve to be respected, protected and paid. That’s why we won’t stop fighting to pass a package that lives up to the promise of Build Back Better by creating a pathway to citizenship, investing in home care to expand access and create good, union jobs, making a downpayment on climate justice and so much more. Leaders in Congress and the White House must have the courage to step up and meet the moment. The lives of too many families hang in the balance.”