Dear John, 

23 million. 

That’s how many immigrants – legal as well as undocumented – have been employed in an essential industry throughout the pandemic. Working across agriculture, food service, transportation, health care and more, immigrants showed up for us every day to make sure our country stayed up and running through the worst of the pandemic. And for that, we want to say: Thank you. 

Join us in thanking immigrant essential workers for their work throughout the pandemic. 

As we continue to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and look forward to a brighter future, immigrants continue to fill critical roles in our communities.  

In Texas, immigrant and refugee women are stepping up to fill the child care gap. In Wisconsin, a growing Latino population is keeping the dairy industry going. And in Pennsylvania, the owner of a packaging business said the grit and determination of his immigrant employees led to reduced absenteeism across the board. 

Send your thanks to an immigrant essential worker. 

It’s clear that immigrants have a role to play in our nation’s continued growth and prosperity. Declining birth rates and an aging population mean that in order to ensure we can meet future economic needs, we’re going to need to recognize the value of immigrants and immigration to our country. 

As we continue our fight to make sure that everyone — regardless of status — has access to the skills, opportunities, and stability they need to succeed,  we must remember: Immigrants are still essential. Join us in sending thanks. 

Thank immigrant essential workers for their contributions. We’ll share a card containing your expressions of gratitude with essential workers from across the country.  

Thanks for all you do,  

Kathleen Gillen  

Assistant Vice President of Field & Constituencies  

National Immigration Forum