Watch Video of the Event: HERE
EL PASO, TX – Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-El Paso) joined City Representative Alexsandra Annello, Bishop Mark Seitz of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, American Business Immigration Coalition Action, El Paso Chamber of Commerce, El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, El Paso Evangelical Network, National Immigration Forum, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) El Paso Council No. 8, American Families United, FWD.us and Children at Risk to call on President Biden to expand parole and work authorization access to help address El Paso’s migration and workforce challenges, keep El Paso families together, and increase economic prosperity and opportunities for all El Pasoans, including new arrivals and long-term contributors. The event occurred days after the Texas Legislature passed bills that allow law enforcement to arrest and deport immigrants without legal status.
The President has the authority under current immigration law to expand work permits to newly arriving migrants and immigrants who have lived and worked in the United States for years without a work permit, including 9,000 spouses who lack immigration status and are married to U.S. citizens in El Paso. President Biden must also remove the uncertainty in the lives of El Paso’s 1,900 Dreamers unable to apply for DACA due to a recent federal court ruling against the DACA program.
Recently, Ranking Member Jayapal, and Congresswoman Escobar released a new letter urging President Biden to use his parole authority to keep American families together and help reunite U.S. citizens with their spouses who have been separated by our failed immigration system’s harsh and outdated immigration system.
The letter urges the administration to (1) consider granting parole in place, on a case-by-case basis, to the spouses of U.S. citizens who are physically present in the country without admission; and (2) create a family reunification parole process for the spouses of U.S. citizens who are outside the United States.
“Millions of mixed-status families across our country need immediate relief,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “In El Paso, we have thousands of spouses with no immigration status who are married to U.S. citizens in our community. By granting work authorizations on a case-by-case basis, President Biden has the potential to both dramatically improve our economy and the lives of American families. I’m grateful to the President for all he has done to create new legal pathways, and I urge him to expand that compassionate, strategic effort in this way as well.”
“El Paso’s new Enhanced Library Cards are a step in the right direction for El Pasoans to access opportunities. But it should not be the last step. President Biden must also expand parole and work authorization opportunities for immigrants so that they can legally work, contribute to our economy, and keep their families together,” added El Paso City Representative Alexsandra Annello.
“I speak for those U.S. citizens whose families have been torn apart by our immigration system, which we all can agree is outdated. I am also here to debunk a myth — that there aren’t many people like me. There are literally millions of American voters just like me. That’s enough to determine the 2024 Presidential Election. Can you imagine any U.S. citizen voting for someone who does nothing to help them? Texas politicians are passing laws that would put American citizens in jail for 10 years for driving their husband or wife to the grocery store. What is President Biden doing about this? I will tell you what he could do: he could include US citizens and their spouses in the parole program he has used for 1.2M new migrants. He can reunify American families -for US citizens who have spouses outside the United States or inside the United States,” said Edgar Falcon, Board Member, American Families United.
Juan Carlos Cerda, Texas State Director, American Business Immigration Coalition Action said: “Providing work authorization including the use of parole is economically important, morally right and politically smart. President Biden has all the administrative tools he needs to catapult our nation out of its existing labor crisis while simultaneously providing immediate relief to long-term immigrant contributors and mixed-status families who are at risk of separation. The President should act now.”
Cindy-Ramos Davidson, CEO, El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce added “Small business owners in El Paso see the dire consequences of the U.S. labor shortage on a daily basis. They have job openings that need to be filled to keep our businesses afloat, and immigrants are eager to step into these roles. President Biden taking action to expand parole and work authorization for immigrants is not just about fixing our workforce challenges; it’s about ensuring the survival of our small businesses and the livelihoods of our employees. It’s time for our leaders to recognize the invaluable contributions immigrants can make to our economy.”
“The mismatch between employers needing workers and immigrants unable to obtain work permits legally is why we’re urging President Biden to expand work authorization and parole for immigrants. In Texas, we have over 745,000 unfilled jobs, which could be filled by immigrants given the opportunity,” said Andrea Hutchins, CEO, El Paso Chamber of Commerce.
Bishop Mark Seitz, Catholic Diocese of El Paso and Chairman for U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration Committee said: “As a bishop serving in the vibrant community of El Paso, Texas, I believe President Biden should expand parole for undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens. This policy will keep families and marriages together..”
Woody L. Hunt, ABIC Board Member and Senior Chair of the Board of Directors of Hunt Companies, Inc. added: “El Paso’s story isn’t simply one of not enough workers; it’s a story of tens of thousands of available workers that local employers cannot legally hire. It is the right thing to do, and economically smart, to give people who want to contribute to our community the opportunity to work here legally. Our regional competitiveness will suffer if we cannot address our workforce shortages. President Biden can and should expand parole and work authorization opportunities to address what has become an economic crisis not just for migrants but for employers in a tight job market.”
BACKGROUND
El Paso continues to face significant increases in migration and ongoing workforce shortages. Meanwhile, over 46,000 El Pasoans cannot legally work, despite paying $72 million in taxes and wielding a spending power of $684 million. The president of the United States must expand parole and work authorization opportunities for immigrants, including long-time contributors, new migrant arrivals and mixed-status families. He should act, for the sake of strengthening our economy, addressing severe labor shortages and maintaining the unity of families and immigrant workers that employers need.