Washington, DC – Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, called on Congressional leaders to include a pathway to citizenship as part of the budget reconciliation package.  

Providing a pathway to citizenship is an investment in the economy and our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 5.2 million undocumented people work in essential jobs, including agriculture, food service production, transportation, and healthcare. Long taken for granted, these positions became even more critical during the pandemic as undocumented workers kept the country functioning.

Providing permanent legal status would allow millions of workers to come out of the shadows and fully contribute to the economy. In Nevada’s First Congressional District, granting U.S. citizenship to undocumented essential workers, Dreamers, farmworkers, and TPS holders would generate $2.1 billion in economic revenue.

“Today I urged Congressional leadership to ensure a pathway to citizenship is included in reconciliation as part of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda,” said Congresswoman Titus (NV-1). “Undocumented immigrants kept our community safe throughout the pandemic and are essential to the Las Vegas economy. I'll continue to fight in Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers who have been waiting far too long.”

Congresswoman Titus’s full letter is below:

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer: 

As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I urge you to ensure that appropriate resources are provided to successfully create a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, essential immigrant workers, farmworkers, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders in the final version of the Build Back Better reconciliation bill.

Providing a pathway to citizenship is an investment in the economy and our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 5.2 million undocumented people work in essential jobs, including agriculture, food service production, transportation, and healthcare. Long taken for granted, these positions became even more critical during the pandemic as undocumented workers kept the country functioning.

Providing permanent legal status would allow millions of workers to come out of the shadows and fully contribute to the economy. In every state in the nation, undocumented workers make up a larger share of the workforce than they do the total population. Indeed, using economic impact tools, Dreamers, TPS holders (including those individuals eligible for but not enrolled in TPS), farmworkers, and undocumented essential workers could contribute $121 billion to the economy each year if they were able to become U.S. Citizens. In Nevada’s First Congressional District, granting U.S. citizenship to undocumented essential workers, Dreamers, farmworkers, and TPS holders would generate $2.1 billion in economic revenue.

The economic benefit of a pathway to citizenship is well established and I look forward to working with you to ensure the policy remains in the final version of the reconciliation bill. We must also be ready to process the millions of applications for Legal Permanent Residency that would accompany this economic investment. Accordingly, I urge you to ensure adequate funds are allocated to the Department of Homeland Security, specifically United States Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USCIS), to allow new citizens to quickly receive important identifying documentation and work authorizations.

A pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, essential immigrant workers, farmworkers, and TPS holders will contribute enormously to the economy. To truly build back better, we must also ensure that our immigration system is ready to quickly process citizenship applications and issue permanent work authorizations.

I urge you to ensure that this language is included in the final text of the reconciliation bill. Should you have additional questions, please contact Madison West at 202-225-5965.

Sincerely,

Dina Titus

U.S. House of Representatives