U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), FWD.us and New York community leaders and immigrants will hold a roundtable on Tuesday, June 29, to mark Immigrant Heritage Month (IHM), a month which has been celebrated each June for the last eight years, and recognized by many state and federal leaders, including President Joe Biden.

 

As IHM comes to an end, Espaillat’s office representatives said the roundtable discussion will celebrate the many contributions made by immigrants to New York, will highlight the benefits that immigrants bring to the State, and will discuss what they describe as the critical need for legislation to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, such as the Dream and Promise Act, Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and the U.S. Citizenship Act.

 

The discussion will include testimony from impacted individuals on the substantial contributions of New York’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients, immigrant essential workers, and all immigrants.

 

According to the Congressman, in New York and across the nation, undocumented immigrants continue to play a significant role in enriching our culture and boosting our economy. “Undocumented immigrants in New York pay $3.6 billion in local, state, and federal taxes, annually, and add $19.2 billion in spending power,” he said.

 

Espaillat also said that, this past year, New York’s undocumented population has been critical in the COVID-19 response efforts with 330,000 undocumented essential workers, including an estimated 9,200 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient essential workers who have been supporting industries such as agriculture, health care, education, construction, and sanitation. “The stakes couldn’t be higher to enact commonsense immigration reform,” he said.

 

In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and undocumented essential workers. The congressman described these as critical pieces of legislation and said they were approved with a bipartisan vote and align with overwhelming public support for immigration reform.

 

Espaillat and FWD.us are inviting New Yorkers to join them on Tuesday, June 29, at 5 p.m. EST to celebrate the many contributions made by immigrants to New York, and “talk through the need to enact legislation that puts humanity and civility back into the U.S. immigration system.”

 

Other participants include Eddie A. Taveras, New York State immigration director, FWD.us, Astou Thiane, New York educator and DACA recipient, Israel Sanchez, community organizer, New York State Youth Leadership Council & DACA recipient, Angel Salazar, worker center associate and essential worker at La Colmena, Maria Lizardo, executive director, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation.

 

Register here for the ZOOM and Facebook Live event.