Hispanic State Legislators Join Arizona Business and Community Leaders to Rally Behind President Biden’s Protections for Dreamers and Spouses of U.S. Citizens, Condemn Anti-Immigrant Policies

NHCSL President Rep. Angela Romero (UT) (center) gives opening remarks during press conference.

RECORDING here.

Advocates Contrasted Common-Sense Solutions Support Immigrants and Grow the Economy While Policies Like Mass Deportation Will Devastate Communities

NHCSL Warns Against Harmful State Measures Like AZ Prop. 314, TX S.B.4 and OK HB 4156

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Today, Latino community leaders joined the American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABIC Action) and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) to celebrate the Biden-Harris administration’s historic and wildly popular action granting work permits to spouses of U.S. citizens and improving Dreamers’ ability to secure a more stable legal status, and highlighted the significant contributions that Dreamers and mixed-status families make in growing the economy.

Speakers shared how the administration’s actions in support of immigrants stand in sharp contrast with threats of mass deportation and state bills that criminalize immigrant communities and devastate local economies including Arizona’s Prop. 314, Texas’ S.B. 4 and Oklahoma’s HB 4156.

Here’s what the speakers had to say about how common-sense approaches are good policy, good politics, and good for economic growth:

Rep. Angela Romero (UT), Utah House Minority Leader and President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL): “This year, we have seen an important increase in toxic rhetoric around immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers. Immigrants are key to the fabric of our nation. They keep food on our tables, inflation low, contribute to our economy, make our communities more diverse, and make us stronger. Burying our heads in the sand and not recognizing this is setting us up for failure. NHCSL was proud to co-sponsor a petition to President Biden urging permits for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens that have long contributed to our communities and to expand pathways of protection for DACA recipients. [...] We were very happy to see this administrative action, and we recognize the White House for taking this crucial step to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.”

State Rep. Louis Ruiz (KS), NHCSL’s Immigration Task Force Chair: “What these [anti-immigrant] bills and laws all have in common is the damage they would do to our states and our economy. We need to keep promoting and advancing comprehensive, realistic immigration policies that benefit our country, not ones that hurt us at the expense of our familias.”

State Sen. Flavio Bravo (AZ), NHCSL’s West Region Chair: “The Arizona State Legislature has been a battlefield for anti-immigration laws for decades, and this session was one of the most extreme. [...] H.C.R 2060, now Prop. 314, continues the false narrative that there's an invasion at Arizona’s southern border. [...] This should not be a partisan issue. We need to stop flooding the legislative calendar with anti-immigration legislation around the country and start working together to find solutions. [...] President Biden understood all of this and decided to give longtime undocumented spouses of Americans a pathway to citizenship. It was the right thing to do, it was the American thing to do.”

John Graham, Sunbelt Holdings; Board Member, ABIC Action: “I want to really commend President Biden for the actions he took recently to grant work permits to the spouses of U.S. citizens and Dreamers. [...] This common-sense, compassionate action is economically crucial and morally right. It stands in stark contrast to the promises we’ve been hearing of mass deportations and state-level bills here in Arizona as well as around the country that will be both incredibly cruel and catastrophic for our economy. Mass deportations and policies like Prop. 314 and other bills around the country would increase already rising inflation, worsen our crushing labor shortage across every sector, terrorize families and threaten public safety by creating a climate of fear among workers and the community.”

Everk Sanchez, impacted American Families United member: “Thanks to President Biden's recent action that will grant work permits to spouses of U.S. citizens, Rosa and I finally have hope for our family and for many mixed-status families. Mr. President, thank you for supporting so many families across the country. There are over 1.1 million American citizens waiting for the previous action to be the most inclusive possible. [...] We urge the president to implement this order swiftly, enormously and inclusively so that it reaches and protects our families.”

Angel Palazuelos, Arizona Dreamer; Youth Leadership Council Chair, Aliento AZ: “These policies, especially the D-3 waiver, can transform the lives of Dreamers like myself. [...] The more I think about it, the more I see how critical policies like these are. [...] Here in Arizona, there are 71 available workers for every 100 open jobs. Dreamers can be that gap. [...] We come here knowing that we can contribute to the workforce without being separated from our families, without being stranded in a home that we don't really even know. Meanwhile, policies like Prop. 314 only serve to divide families, they only serve to devastate local economies—and that is why we must stand against it to protect our communities.”

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are 9.5 million job openings in the U.S., but only 6.5 million unemployed workers. If every unemployed person in the country found a job, there would still be nearly three million open jobs. Arizona currently only has 71 available workers for every 100 open jobs.

Here are some key facts about how immigrants make vital contributions to Arizona’s economy and communities:

Arizona has 71 available workers for every 100 open jobs.
60 percent of unauthorized immigrants in Arizona are employed, primarily in waste management, food services, construction, manufacturing and health services industries.
Arizona immigrants comprise 13.1 percent of the population and make up 16.2 percent of Arizona's labor force, contributing to the economy.
Arizona immigrants wield $28.4 billion in spending power and pay $9.1 billion in taxes.
86.6 percent of Arizona’s undocumented immigrants are working age and unable to legally work. They pay $766.3 million in federal, state and local taxes and harness $5.9 billion in spending power.
8.6 percent of Arizona's U.S. citizens live with at least one undocumented person, comprising mixed-status families. 9 percent of Arizona's U.S.-citizen children (less than 18-years-old) live with at least one undocumented person.
20,130 active DACA recipients in Arizona.

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The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the premier national association of Hispanic state legislators working to design and implement policies and procedures that will improve the quality of life for Hispanics throughout the country. NHCSL was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to be the most effective voice for the more than 450 Hispanic legislators. For more information visit www.nhcsl.org.

ABIC Action was created to mobilize the power of American businesses and the general public to promote and advocate for sensible immigration solutions. ABIC Action will develop and advocate for legislation, regulations, and government programs that promote common-sense state and federal immigration reform to benefit the people and economy of our country. ABIC Action operates under federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).