For Immediate Release       
Contact: Dan Gordon, 617-651-0841
Dec. 22, 2020

Bipartisan Bills Lay the Groundwork for Immigration Solutions 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In recent days, bipartisan members of Congress passed a bill that shows compassion for immigrant families.

Twice.

The coronavirus relief and government funding package that Congress passed Monday provides relief for the first time to American families in which one adult is not a citizen, although not all mixed-status families are included. Evangelical leaders on Friday highlighted the penalty American citizens, including children, were paying because a U.S. citizen had married a noncitizen.

The package was the second time in days that bipartisan members of Congress agreed on positive immigration-related measures. The Missing Persons & Unidentified Remains Act is also on the president’s desk for signature.

Among other measures, this bill "would take steps to prevent migrant deaths on the Southwest border and help border counties and nonprofit organizations locate and identify missing migrants," according to the Forum’s summary.

The sponsors of both bills are listed below.

"These bills offer real benefits and peace of mind for families," said Ali Noorani, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. "Democrats and Republicans worked together to ensure that more American families have access to the financial relief they need. While it’s not perfect, this is an important step forward.

"Separately, bipartisan members of Congress worked to bring emotional relief to families north and south of the border who wonder what happened to their loved ones.

"These bills underscore that our border and immigration policies can be fair, humane, orderly and secure — and bipartisan. They are a positive step toward future solutions."

Leaders who pushed for relief for mixed-status families included Republican Sens. Steve Daines (Montana), Mitt Romney (Utah), Marco Rubio (Florida) and Thom Tillis (North Carolina).

The Missing Persons & Unidentified Remains Act was introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the Senate and co-sponsored by Sens. Kamala Harris (D-California), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) and Tom Udall (D-New Mexico). The House version was introduced by Reps. Will Hurd (R-Texas) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) and co-sponsored by Texas Reps. Veronica Escobar (D), Sylvia Garcia (D), Filemon Vela (D) and Randy Weber (R), as well as Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan).

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