Following Midterms, Congress Must Prioritize Passing a Pathway to Citizenship for Immigrant Youth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2022

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Emily Morris, 213-457-7458
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279

Following Midterms, Congress Must Prioritize Passing a Pathway to Citizenship for Immigrant Youth

WASHINGTON — Victoria Ballesteros, executive vice president of strategic communications and narrative at the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF), issued the following statement in response to the midterm election results to date:

“Voters once again rejected far-right extremism, reaffirming that the American public overwhelmingly favors leaders who offer real solutions to the issues we face as a nation. This repudiation of Republican extremism offers a crucial window of opportunity for Congress to follow through on the mandate delivered by voters to prioritize passing a pathway to citizenship for immigrant youth before the end of the year.

“Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and other young immigrants have for far too long dealt with constant uncertainty about their futures. Hundreds of thousands are at risk of losing protections as politically motivated lawsuits make their way through the courts, and many remain wrongfully locked out of the policy.

“As Congress returns to session this week, hundreds of immigrant youth from around the country are flying into Washington to meet with their Members of Congress to send a clear message: Americans across the political spectrum overwhelmingly support permanent protections for immigrant youth, and Congress must urgently deliver.”

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