The following is a statement from Jessica Azua, Immigration Justice Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP) and DACA recipient, in reaction to the Biden-Harris administration today presenting a comprehensive immigration reform bill to Congress:
“We are pleased to see the Biden-Harris administration quickly send to Congress a bill that prioritizes many of the same people who have endured the previous administration’s demonization and who have helped our nation sustain itself through this pandemic, immigrants.
“Not only is it crictical to undo Trump’s xenophobic policies that sought to diminish us, the president, vice president, and Congress must do all within their power to bring relief to the millions of immigrant families across the country who have experienced our dehumanizing immigration system firsthand. As a DACA recipient, I am no stranger to living through the chaos and uncertainty that this system has sown.
“From creating a path to citizenship, to providing immigration courts with adequate resources, to supporting asylum seekers, to addressing the core causes of migration, to protecting undocumented workers from exploitation, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 is a step in the right direction that gets us closer to the justice our communities deserve. In addition, we demand President Biden follow through on his campaign promise of a moratorium on deportations once in office, and we will hold him to his word.
“This being said, TOP and our immigration justice allies will not hesitate to hold accountable lawmakers who dare to impede the common-sense measures in the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 from being enacted.”
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Texas Organizing Project organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris and Bexar counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.
This statement was sent to press January 20, 2021.