FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 14, 2011

CONTACT:
Adela de la Torre, (213) 674-2832; [email protected]

HOUSE VOTES TO RAISE TAXES ON WORKING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
Groups Urge Congress and White House to Protect Taxpaying Immigrant Families

WASHINGTON, DC – The tax package passed yesterday by the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 3630, included language that would effectively raise taxes on approximately two million working immigrant families by denying them eligibility for the reimbursable Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This tax credit has prevented millions of children from falling into poverty.

Last week, 36 immigrant, labor, and faith-based advocacy organizations, including the National Immigration Law Center, AFL-CIO, SEIU, and National Council La Raza, sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and House Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), urging them to reject Republican-led efforts to eliminate the ACTC for immigrant families. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center:

“In their annual rush to pass legislation prior to the December recess and go home to their families, House Republicans are using must-pass legislation to enact amendments that will please extremists and hurt the 99 percent. Instead of taxing the wealthy, the House has chosen to effectively raise taxes on taxpaying immigrant families by denying them eligibility for the reimbursable Additional Child Tax Credit. This change will compromise the ability of these parents to care for their families.

“This provision will hurt up to four million immigrant and U.S.-born children. We call upon Republican and Democratic congressional leaders and the White House to reject efforts to harm low-income, taxpaying immigrant families and retain their access to the reimbursable ACTC.

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