Alianza Nacional de Campesinas Welcomes Introduction of U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021
For immediate release: February 19, 2021
Contact: María De Luna, mariadeluna@campesinasunite.org
Yesterday, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA-38) introduced the “U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021,” legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship for our country’s approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants, including an expedited path for farmworkers, people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). The bill advances significant reforms to our immigration system by prioritizing family unity, promoting immigrant and refugee integration, expanding humanitarian protection channels, recognizing migrant workers as fundamental members of our communities, and strengthening protections for survivors and other vulnerable populations.
If enacted, this bill would have a significant impact on immigrant communities, and in particular, farmworker families. Nearly 70% of all undocumented immigrants have frontline jobs considered essential, including millions of farmworker women (campesinas) and other women workers who form the backbone of our farm and food systems. It also takes necessary steps to advance labor and employment protections for agricultural workers, critical to addressing gender disparities in the industry.
“For decades, campesinas - and immigrant and migrant workers throughout our food systems - have organized to create better lives for our loved ones, and to keep our families and communities together,” said Mily Treviño-Sauceda, Executive Director of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas. “With this immigration bill, we finally have the opportunity to act boldly in favor of the many women and families who labor on the frontlines of this pandemic to provide food on our tables despite the multiple, overlapping crises they have and continue to face.”
Alianza Nacional de Campesinas commends the introduction of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 – and the tireless efforts of our fellow racial justice, labor, immigrant, LGBTQIA+ and survivor-rights activists and allies that made this moment possible. While we have concerns about a few provisions, we see this bill as a progressive first step and stand ready to work with President Biden and members of Congress to ensure passage of a holistic immigration package that addresses the realities of campesinas, immigrant and migrant families, and ensures all undocumented people have a fair opportunity to access a pathway to citizenship.
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Alianza Nacional de Campesinas (Alianza de Campesinas) is the first national farmworker women’s organization in the United States founded and led by farmworker women and those who hail from farmworker families. A coalition of 15 grassroots organizations across 11 states and the District of Columbia, Alianza de Campesinas advocates for the civil, constitutional and human rights of our nation’s women farmworkers, and other women throughout our food system.