For Immediate Release: September 20, 2021
Contact: Colleen Ross | [email protected]| 202-601-7877

Catholic Lobby Reiterates Support for Pathway to Citizenship in Budget Reconciliation
Ronnate Asirwatham: “We urge Members of Congress to use all tools at their disposal to prevail and deliver a path to citizenship to our families and communities.”

WASHINGTON – Following the news that Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough issued guidance against Democratic leadership’s initial plan to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the budget reconciliation package, Ronnate Asirwatham, Director of Government Relations at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice responded:

“We know that a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farm workers and other essential workers has strong bipartisan support among voters and will boost economic growth, create jobs, and increase wages for all people living in the U.S. It’s time for We the People to truly include all of us.

“Creating a pathway for our undocumented neighbors to be able to access permanent protections has a critical and undisputable budgetary impact. We know this process is just beginning and there are other options available and have been prepared. We urge Members of Congress to use all tools at their disposal to prevail and deliver a path to citizenship to our families and communities.

“We thank our champions in Congress who are working on alternative proposals to ensure that our undocumented siblings will be able to live their lives in dignity with a path to citizenship.”

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NETWORK – advocates for justice inspired by Catholic sisters – educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation. They have a 45-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good. www.networklobby.org