This unprecedented global health crisis has presented new challenges for all of us in both our professional and personal lives. In a matter of weeks, life as we knew it has changed in fundamental ways.
In these difficult times, we are reminded of our shared humanity. Now more than ever, our personal health and well-being are interdependent with our neighbors’, coworkers’, and society’s at large. We must include everyone as part of the solution to this public health crisis.
USCRI is joining with other organizations in urging Congress to include provisions protecting immigrants and refugees in the next COVID-19 package. Specifically, we are asking Congress to:
Make COVID-19 testing and treatment free and accessible to everyone, regardless of immigration status.
Suspend all immigration-enforcement activities near medical clinics and hospitals.
Extend direct cash payments to all immigrants who pay taxes and to refugees who would not otherwise qualify.
Extend immigrants’ work authorization during this time of uncertainty.
Pause implementation of public charge rules, which deter immigrants from seeking health care and other essential services.
This virus does not discriminate — it does not care about race, class, or wealth. Our response to this crisis shouldn’t either.
Wishing you and your family safety and good health.
Refugees and immigrants are telling us how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting them:
“Nothing has changed at my job at (a meat production facility). They are not taking our temperatures or spacing us out. I have to ride to work in a van with many other people. I am very scared and I’m not sure how to protect myself.”
“We both just lost our jobs. Our application for food stamps hasn’t gone through yet because the system is overloaded with applications. Our son has a severe disability and we are really struggling without the support of his school.”
“I recently arrived in this country as a refugee and I’ve been working at my new job for a month. Because of the crisis, everyone’s hours are being cut back. I’m not eligible for unemployment benefits because I haven’t worked in this state long enough. I don’t know how I’ll get by on just part-time work.”
USCRI is on the ground, providing food, emergency cash assistance, and health care information to refugees and immigrants around the U.S. But we can't do it without you. Please make a generous donation to USCRI’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund today. Thank you.
