Padilla Announces Pathway to Citizenship for Essential Workers in First Bill as Senator

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) joined Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA-33) in announcing the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act at a FWD.us virtual roundtable with essential workers -- Padilla's first bill as a United States Senator. Both of Padilla's parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico. His father worked as a short-order cook and his mother worked as a housekeeper -- both jobs that would be deemed essential work today during the COVID-19 crisis. Earlier this month, Padilla announced he will serve as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety Subcommittee.

The Citizenship for Essential Workers Act would create an expedited pathway to citizenship for the over 5 million essential workers without permanent legal status who have kept Americans healthy, fed, and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill provides undocumented essential workers with a fast, accessible, and secure path to citizenship, beginning with immediate adjustment of status to legal permanent resident. This legislation is a critical part of a just and inclusive COVID-19 recovery.

"The essential workers that have worked so heroically on the front lines during the pandemic include more than 5 million undocumented immigrants. These heroes have risked their health and their lives to keep our communities safe and our economy moving and they have earned a pathway to citizenship," said Senator Alex Padilla. "My parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico. My father worked as a short-order cook and my mom used to clean houses, jobs that would be considered essential today. Dignity, respect, and citizenship for essential workers is personal for me and in the best interest of our country. I'm proud to lead my colleagues with Representative Castro to give undocumented essential workers the protections they have earned."

"From farmworkers in the fields to nurses in the ICU, immigrant essential workers have risked their lives, and their families lives, every day during this pandemic. Our nation owes them a debt of gratitude and they have earned a path to citizenship", said Congressman Castro. "We must not allow the workers who are called essential today to be deported tomorrow. Undocumented essential workers deserve to stay here in their home and to be recognized as the heroes -- and Americans -- they are."

"Essential workers risk their lives every day to keep our country running -- but about 5 million of those workers now live-in fear of deportation," said Senator Warren. "We must act immediately to correct this injustice, and that's why I'm proud to announce The Citizenship For Essential Workers Act with my colleagues to provide a fair pathway to citizenship for essential workers."

"Workers in health care, meatpacking, agriculture, public transit and other industries strive to ensure our neighbors have basic necessities and are cared for. During the pandemic, these are people who have risked their lives to keep our economy and country running," said Congressman Lieu. "I'm proud to partner with Congressman Castro and Senators Padilla and Warren to announce the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act. This legislation provides an expedited pathway to lawful permanent resident status and eventual U.S. citizenship for over 5 million undocumented essential workers who have been a critical part of the COVID-19 response. I urge my colleagues to support this bill."

"Essential workers deserve more than praise; they deserve citizenship," said event moderator Alida Garcia, Vice President of Advocacy at FWD.us. "I am grateful to Senators Padilla and Warren and Congressmen Castro and Lieu for announcing The Citizenship for Essential Workers Act to acknowledge the sacrifice and contribution these individuals have made throughout the pandemic to support our nation. The pandemic rages on and it's urgent that Congress take up and pass this legislation, along with protections for immigrant youth, TPS holders, farmworkers, and other members of the undocumented community."