For Immediate Release
October 22, 2021
Media Contact
Erik Villalobos, evillalobos@ndlon.org
“Not Good Enough”: TPS Alliance calls upon Hispanic Caucus to take unified & courageous position
Sign onto Petition to Hispanic Caucus members
(NY, LA, DC)- As negotiations come to a conclusion on the scope of infrastructure and budget reconciliation legislation packages, members of the National TPS Alliance led a series of actions in Southern California promoting a petition to calling upon members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to follow in the footsteps steps of Representatives Chuy Garcia, Lou Correa, and Adriano Espaillat, all of whom have publicly stated that they will oppose any legislative deal that excludes immigrant legalization.
Following these events, and in the midst of Democratic leadership’s uncertainty around their position on immigration, Veronica Lagunas of the National TPS Alliance issued the following statement calling for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to unify around a position stating clearly that all members will commit to obstruct the entire infrastructure package if immigrant legalization is not included:
“It’s not too late for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to redeem itself despite its lack of leadership advancing immigrant rights this summer. Members should express a clear, unified, and principled stance drawing a line in the sand: NO legalization, NO deal! It isn’t just Manchin and Sinema who hold leverage at this moment. The Hispanic Caucus also holds leverage! Will they choose to use it? Or will they continue to carry a muddled message about procedural obstacles and disagreement over eventual bottom lines? For us, the bottom line at this moment is clear. They need to make progress. Our family’s future depends on them. They must do more. ”-Veronica Lagunas, TPS Holder, Participant in Southern California actions, Executive committee member of the National TPS Alliance
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The National TPS Alliance is a grassroots immigrant rights organization of over 50 committees nationwide, advocating for the permanent residency of more than 400,000 beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)