FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2021
CONTACT
Fernanda Durand (443) 396-3317 fernanda@communicationsshop.us
Nancy Treviño | (786) 201-8958 | media@presente.org
Congress, Time’s Up!
Video Series Captures Voices of TPS holders, DACA Recipients and Essential Workers as They Advocate for Immigrant Protections
NATIONWIDE – Presente.org and Alianza Americas members and organizations are calling on the Biden-Harris administration and the U.S. Congress to ensure the inclusion and protection of immigrants in the budget reconciliation process with a series of videos capturing the voices of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, essential workers, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) holders.
From Oct. 18 -31, stories of immigrants who make countless contributions to the U.S. and demand permanent protection will be shared on the Alianza Americas YouTube page and across Alianza Americas and Presente.org social media channels.
See below for excerpts from some of the interviews:
“Me and many friends from El Salvador who have TPS [also] have houses, own our own companies, have created jobs, [and] generate wealth for this country. How is it possible that this is our final [immigration relief] and that’s it? I have my family here, I have made my life here. I have come to this country to support my family because here we have opportunities. I feel like I have contributed and we [immigrants] have contributed a grain of sand to the strengthening of this nation and it’s unimaginable that we aren’t deserving of permanent residency,” said José, a TPS beneficiary and member of CRECEN Houston.
“One day I hope to have an immigration status that allows me to gain more knowledge and create new jobs to contribute to this country,” said Rosana, the founder of Women Working Together of Miami, Fla., which advocates for fair and dignified working conditions.
“I have two children. We demand a path to citizenship now. I dream of being next to my son when he graduates from university and want his eight year old sister to follow his example. However, as TPS holders, we live in fear of [whether or not] our TPS will be renewed because they only provided it for a [temporary] period of time. That is why we are telling members of Congress and Senators that it’s time to act,” said Lily, a TPS beneficiary from Miami, Florida.
“I am one of the other 12,000 DACA recipients who call Minnesota home…It is very clear with the Census that, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, immigrants are job creators who bring innovation to the U.S. economy and stimulate recovery. We can not fully recover from this pandemic if our community is left on the sidelines. It is time! We need our elected leaders to support families who have been waiting for too long. We all deserve to live a dignified life,” said Carolina, a DACA recipient from Minnesota and part of COPAL MN.
To learn more about the Congress Time’s Up! series or to arrange an interview with impacted individuals, please reach out to Kelsey Parsons (kelsey@communicationsshop.us).
###
Presente.org is the nation’s largest online Latinx organizing group — and the nation’s premier Latinx digital organizing hub — advancing social justice with technology, media, and culture. Build Power. Change Culture. ¡Stay Presente!
Alianza Americas is a network of migrant-led organizations working in the United States and transnationally to create an inclusive, equitable and sustainable way of life for communities across North, Central and South America.