People of Faith Respond to House Passage of Immigration Protections in Build Back Better Act

Washington, DC – Today the House passed the Build Back Better Act, which includes deportation protections, work permits, and travel authorization for immigrants who arrived in the United States by January 1, 2011, allowing an estimated 7 million people to receive 5-year work permits that are renewable for another 5 years. These temporary protections, though a  step forward from the current status quo, are far from providing the well-deserved and widely-desired permanency of a path to citizenship that was promised to undocumented immigrant communities. Now as the Senate moves forward to work on Build Back Better legislation, people of faith stand hopeful and ready to demand that the Senate act boldly and deliver on their promise to create pathways to citizenship through budget reconciliation this year.

We cannot celebrate this bill without acknowledging our community members whose dignity and well-being were compromised, traded in to uphold archaic processes, or just excluded from receiving well-needed protections,” stated Peniel Ibe, IIC co-chair and Policy Engagement Coordinator at the American Friends Service Committee. “The Build Back Better Act can change lives if it is allowed to live up to its full potential. But the immigration provisions passed today threaten that potential. Parole is neither what we asked for nor what was promised. We were promised permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship – not second-class status. Immigrant communities continue to put their bodies on the line to remind Congress to keep a promise delayed by decades of inaction. It is not too late for the Senate to act and change the course of action. Senate leadership cannot let the opinions of the parliamentarian outweigh the moral thing to do. Congress can and must deliver on the promise of permanent protections as seen in Green Cards, not parole. As people of faith, we are calling on Congress to do the right thing and say ‘yes’ to citizenship now.”

“We commend the House of Representatives for passing the Build Back Better Act, legislation that makes progress on multiple advocacy priorities including transformational investments in anti-poverty programs, advancements in racial equity, measures to address the climate crisis, and temporary protections for immigrant neighbors. The initiative to recapture visas will help immigrant families separated by grueling backlogs. But as faith communities, we must continue to answer the call to act in solidarity with undocumented immigrants. We continue to urge further action, inspired by the image of God in each of us, towards permanent relief for our immigrant siblings,” said Giovana Oaxaca, Program Director for Migration Policy with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. “The voices of people of faith are needed as Senators continue to debate and negotiate priorities important to vulnerable communities and the common good.”

“For months, people of all faiths have worked and prayed for legislation that builds a Holy Recovery and helps us all thrive. House Democrats heeded our cry by passing the historic, life-saving Build Back Better Act that invests in all of us,” said Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO of Faith in Public Life Action. “This is a moral milestone that honors the dignity of all Americans, not just a wealthy few. Now it’s time for Senators to finish the job. I commend House Democrats for passing a morally responsible package with so many provisions that will help our families thrive — from historic investments in healthcare and the workers who provide it, to paid family and medical leave, to affordable housing and childcare, to the largest-ever investments in combating climate change, and so much more. These desperately needed policies will be paid for by ensuring that the wealthiest few Americans pay their fair share of taxes. 

“Members of the U.S. Senate must now pass the Build Back Better Act, with no delays or cuts to incredibly popular and morally responsible programs like paid leave and lowering of prescription drug prices. Instead, they must expand who is included in our recovery by granting pathways to citizenships for our immigrant neighbors. Build Back Better is the popular, transformative change Congress was elected to pass. People of faith will continue to act and pray until the President signs Build Back Better into law.”

“While we commend the passage of this historic bill, we are disappointed that a pathway to citizenship was not included. The House’s inclusion of immigration protections in the Build Back Better Act is a step forward, but it falls short of what immigrant leaders and faith communities have relentlessly fought for,” said Elissa Diaz, co-chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition and Policy and Advocacy Manager, Church World Service. “We are heartened that the bill will facilitate the reuniting of families who have been stuck in a decades-long backlog by recapturing more than 500,000 previously unused visas. We honor this positive provision but we know, at the same time, that immigrants have waited for lasting reforms for far too long. Temporary protections are not enough. We will push the Senate to keep their word until they pass citizenship for all.”

“We commend the House of Representatives for passing the Build Back Better Act, an essential bill that will move the United States toward an equitable recovery. By making long overdue investments in immigration, this legislation will help seven million immigrant workers and families live with greater security and opportunity,” stated Barbara Weinstein, Director, Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism. “As a community comprised of and descended from immigrants and refugees, with a long history of persecution and sojourning in foreign lands, American Jews are particularly sensitive to the plight of today’s immigrants. We urge the Senate to swiftly pass the Build Back Better Act and continue working on urgent immigration priorities that were left out of the bill, including a clear pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants.” 

The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants. Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm 

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