Refugees and immigrants are currently employed in thousands of jobs that are critical to keeping our country functioning during the current pandemic. Many of the refugees and immigrants in the United States fled conflict, disaster and danger in their home countries to find safe haven here and are now contributing to the effort to manage and overcome the national health crisis by working - often at great risk to their own health and lives - to keep Americans safe, healthy, fed and poised for economic recovery.
Today, in the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, there is a hearing, Immigrants as Essential Workers During COVID-19, which will discuss the vital contributions immigrants and refugees are making. We invite you to:
In his written testimony that was submitted for the hearing today, Bishop Mario Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, said, "Immigrants and refugees are a blessing to our country. The Church teaches that every human being is created in God's image and deserves dignity and respect and that human labor has an inherent dignity, allowing all to share in the ongoing work of creation, while providing the resources to build and sustain families.
The contributions of essential workers have become undoubtedly more important during COVID-19. While many essential workers are U.S. citizens, many are also immigrants and refugees. In addition to be highly vulnerable to COVID 19, immigrant and refugee essential workers are less likely to have access to medical care and thus far have been completely left out of any federal COVID-19 relief or assis-tance. We urge Congress to include immigrant and refugee families in any future COVID-19 relief as well as be made eligible for past relief efforts. Additionally, we continue to advocate Congress for a path to citizenship for undocu- mented workers who have been living, working and contributing to our country. As Pope Francis states: No one must be left behind."
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We invite JFI members to join in the advocacy effort to support refugees and other deserving immigrants and their families. Please send the action alert asking your Senators to include refugees and immigrants in any COVID-19 relief package. You can access it on our action alert page. Please take a moment to fill it out and send to your elected officials.
In Solidarity,
Tony Cube
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3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, DC 20017
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