Welcome to Inbox One, a weekly short-form newsletter by Juan Escalante that brings you the toplines on immigration, tech, and other topics of interest. Help Inbox One grow by sharing these bite-sized updates with a friend or two!
I wanted to apologize for the lack of updates, but when I said that Congress was moving fast — I meant it!
Earlier this week, the House of Representatives approved language that would create a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants across the country. A significant step forward in our journey to deliver immigration relief for immigrant communities this year.
Of course, the Senate has yet to act as they await a ruling from the Parliamentarian on whether a path to citizenship could be part of the upcoming $3.5 trillion spending package.
However, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Majority Whip and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has expressed confidence that this is the year where a light will shine through the long shadow of deportation that looms over millions of undocumented immigrants.
Polls continue to show support for a path to citizenship. On September 7, 2021, Data For Progress reported that “by a +41-point margin, we find that a strong, bipartisan majority of voters support an earned path to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers and other essential workers.”
Here is what Data For Progress reported today in a massive 12 state poll —
So there you have it — regardless of what the naysayers and the anti-immigrant crowd says, voters overwhelmingly support a path to citizenship for immigrants across the country have a path to citizenship as part of reconciliations.
But this isn’t just a set of poll numbers, it’s a reflection of what communities across the country continue to express on a daily basis. Here is a quick recap:
Rafael Bernal from The Hill reports how a coalition of more than “700 local officials call for immigration in reconciliation bill”
The Human Rights Campaign and its affiliates issued a letter in support of the “nearly 300k undocumented LGBTQ+ immigrants who live and work in the United States.”
Priscilla Alvarez and Daniella Diaz of CNN reported on a letter issued by leading economists urging "Democratic leaders to pass immigration revamp in budget reconciliation bill"
Congressman Joe Neguse tweeted out a letter from the Congressional Black Caucus in support of a pathway to citizenship.
President Joe Biden’s White House has issued not one but two different proclamations recognizing that this is the year for Congress to deliver a path to citizenship.
How can you help ensure immigrants obtain a path to citizenship?
Call your Senators and call them every single day. Below is a quick breakdown on HOW to call your Senators and WHAT to tell them when your call connects — whether its a real person or voicemail:
I will write back once with more information in the coming days!