Press Conferences Will Take Place on Monday, December 13 at 3:30 p.m. CST at Democratic Offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Waukesha, Green Bay & Appleton
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/10/21
(STATEWIDE – WI) – Democrats in the House and Senate have committed to pass a historic investment in human infrastructure that includes immigration reform through the Build Back Better reconciliation bill by the holidays. In anticipation of a planned vote in the U.S. Senate the week of December 13th on the Build Back Better package, and the impending advisory opinion from the Senate Parliamentarian on proposed immigration provisions, immigrant essential workers, their families and allies are holding press conferences outside of Democratic Party office in six cities across Wisconsin to demand that Democrats “Bring Immigration Reform Home for the Holidays!” They will be joined by local progressive elected officials who support immigration reform, many of whom signed onto a letter sent to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Majority Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi in September urging them to pass a clean pathway to citizenship this year.
What: “Democrats: Bring Immigration Reform Home for the Holidays!” press conference outside Democratic Party Offices in Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, Racine, Waukesha and Appleton.
When: Monday, December 13, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. CST
Where: These six local Democratic Party offices in Wisconsin:
- Milwaukee County Democratic Party, 2999 S. Delaware St, Milwaukee, WI 53221
- Livestream: The event in Milwaukee will also be streamed via Facebook live at facebook.com/VocesdelaFronteraWI.
- Dane County Democratic Party, 15 N Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703
- Racine County Democratic Party, 507 6th St, Racine, WI 53403
- Livestream: The event in Racine will also be streamed via Facebook Live at facebook.com/RacineVDLF
- Outagamie County Democratic Party, 516 W College Ave, Appleton, WI 54911
- Waukesha County Democratic Party, 336 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186
- Brown County Democratic Party, 118 South Chestnut Ave, Green Bay, WI 54303
- Livestream: The event in Green Bay will also be streamed via Facebook Live at facebook.com/VocesdelaFronteraGreenBay
Interview Opportunities:
- Immigrant essential workers and/or children of immigrant essential workers
- Local progressive elected officials who support immigration reform
- Allies in the Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander, faith, and farming communities (varies by city)
Background Information: It’s been over 30 years since the last meaningful immigration reform bill was passed. Immigrant essential workers and their families have made great sacrifices keeping us safe and fed throughout the pandemic, and reform is long overdue. Democrats have the power to make history and pass a path to citizenship this year. On the campaign trail, President Biden and Vice President Harris campaigned on the promise to pass a path to citizenship in their first year in office, and Voces de la Frontera and the immigrant rights movement nationally have been fighting to hold them accountable to that promise since they took office. The immigration reform provisions in the Build Back Better bill passed by the House on November 22 include work permits for an estimated 7.1 million immigrants.
In September of this year, 57 local progressive elected officials from Wisconsin out of 715 nationally signed onto a letter calling on President Biden, Vice President Harris, Majority Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi to pass a path to citizenship for immigrant essential workers, Dreamers, TPS recipients and farmworkers. Many of these elected officials plan to join Voces de la Frontera on December 13th.
Earlier this week, a delegation of immigrant essential workers, their families and allies from Voces de la Frontera and their national immigrant rights network, the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in a national day of action to demand Congress to pass the Build Back Better bill with a path to citizenship. A march and civil disobedience action occurred on December 7, and dozens were arrested. Then, the delegation from Wisconsin met with Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin on Wednesday, December 8. Photos of these actions by Joe Brusky/MTEA can be found here, and video and more can be found on Voces de la Fronteras Facebook page.
Quote:
Deisy Espana, college student and daughter of immigrant essential workers in Milwaukee who’ve been in this country for more than 20 years, said, “As part of the Voces delegation that traveled to Washington D.C. earlier this week, I participated in a civil disobedience action and was arrested to send a message to Democratic leadership in the White House and Congress: that being arrested is nothing compared to the sacrifices that my parents have made for me as undocumented workers in this country. While in D.C., we als0 met with Senator Tammy Baldwin. We know that she stands with us in the fight to win immigration reform this year and we urged her to continue to do all she can to pass a historic Build Back Better bill that will protect millions of immigrant essential workers, like my parents, from being separated from their families. My parents have sacrificed their health and put their lives in danger during this pandemic to care for others. The time for immigration reform is now.”
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CONTACT: Anna Dvorak, 414-469-0118, anna@vdlf.org