OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Survival Checks for Mixed-Status Families

Floor Speech

Date: Dec. 16, 2020
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, we are close to finalizing a relief package, but I ask my colleagues: Relief for whom?

A relief package without survival checks is not a relief package at all, nor is a relief package that leaves out millions of immigrants and their families. Any deal that we strike must include survival checks to families and immigrants, and mixed-status families must be included.

Earlier this year, countless families that I represent were denied stimulus checks, including U.S. citizens whose spouses are immigrants. We even excluded children who may have an immigrant parent.

How in the world did we exclude U.S. citizen children?

In this season of sacred holidays, I implore all of us to be compassionate and not punish kids for their parents' status. Families are struggling to put food on their tables and keep roofs over their heads.

Circumstances are dire. We need to put money directly into working families' pockets. I urge my colleagues that any relief package must include survival checks for everyone, including immigrant children.

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