THE CHILD TAX CREDIT
NEWS AND OPINION

Congress Approves Tax Package and Protects the Eligibility of Millions of Immigrant Families for the Child Tax Credit
NILC news release

Negotiators Reach Tentative Payroll Tax Cut Deal CBS News

A Harder Squeeze on the Poor
New York Times

Tax Cut Shouldn't Harm Low-Income Families Philadelphia Inquirer

The Poverty Problem: More Than Mitt Romney's PR Misstep Politico

Talk About Class Warfare!
Center for American Progress

Immigrants and the Child Tax Credit by the Numbers Center for American Progress

Raising Taxes On Our Nation's Most Vulnerable Children? Huffington Post

Credit for a Mini Fire Engine
Huffington Post

Last updated TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012

(Tue., Feb. 21, 2011 — As a direct result of our collective advocacy, Congress last week passed the payroll tax cut extension without cutting off taxpaying immigrants from accessing the Child Tax Credit. This is an amazing win for children, for immigrant families, and for economic fairness. Read a NILC news release about this development here.)

Low-income, taxpaying immigrant families at risk of losing $1800/year

The payroll tax cut and federal unemployment insurance are set to expire at the end of this month. It is critically important to our individual and national economic well-being that these measures be extended, BUT not on the backs of children or the working poor.

Congress is considering the unbelievable: funding the payroll tax cut by denying immigrant eligibility for the Child Tax Credit. This proposal could financially harm up to five million children and their families. It would impact the ability of these families to feed, clothe and shelter their children.

Call on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus to oppose ANY restrictions to eligibility for the Child Tax Credit. Join the national call-in day Tuesday, February 14.

Call toll-free 888-245-3381

And ask for the offices of
 • Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
 • Senator Max Baucus

Tell them
  • Thank you for your leadership and support!
  • Extend unemployment insurance and the payroll tax credit.
  • Reject ANY limitations on eligibility for the Child Tax Credit.

More Information

Congress is considering paying for unemployment insurance and the payroll tax holiday by denying taxpaying immigrant families access to the Child Tax Credit. This could impact up to two million families and over five million children. It is shameful and unacceptable that Congress would even consider protecting the wealthy and squeezing money from the most vulnerable among us.

Please raise your voice to protect working immigrant families and call the toll-free numbers above. 

Thank you!

Ellen Battistelli
Policy Analyst
National Immigration Law Center

Special thanks to AFSCME for providing the toll-free number for this effort.

Additional Resources

Spanish-language call to action (Feb. 1, 2012)

NILC Child Tax Credit talking points (PDF)

Letter from Tyler Moran, NILC policy director

Sign-on letter from 52 groups opposing any changes in eligibility to the Child Tax Credit (PDF)

First Focus ITIN fact sheet (PDF)

NCLR Child Tax Credit fact sheet

Sign-on letter from the Coalition for Human Needs to members of Congress (PDF)

Letter from the Congressional Hispanic and Asian Pacific American Caucuses to congressional leadership and conferees (PDF)

Letter to Rep. Nancy Pelosi from organizations representing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (PDF)