Even Trump backers would legalize undocumented immigrants
We come from different ends of the political spectrum.
Alejandra is a young, progressive Latina community organizer. Bob is a not-quite-as-young businessman, devout Mormon and former Republican state senator.
But we share a strong agreement – along with the majority of Arizonans, including Democrats, independents, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, and even Trump supporters – that Congress must include pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the budget reconciliation bill.
And if that doesn’t work, find a way to get it done.
According to a new bipartisan poll, 4 out of 5 Arizona voters support an earned pathway to citizenship for “Dreamers,” Temporary Protected Status holders, farmworkers and essential workers, given their economic contributions. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly should be courageous and lead the fight for legalization and citizenship in the budget reconciliation process.
They need to meet the moment.
All Arizonans stand to benefit. The proposal before Congress will grow the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, accelerate job growth and raise wages for everyone in the state.
Legalization and citizenship will increase economic activity by $121 billion per year, according to a study by advocacy group FWD.us. This figure includes an additional $31 billion annually in federal, state and local taxes. A dozen states will see multibillion dollar increases in their economies, with Arizona expected to grow by $3 billion a year.
The bipartisan polling research confirmed what people like us, who are in touch with Arizona voters and businesses every day, have known for a long time. Politicians have been talking about fixing our immigration system for more than 30 years, but they haven’t done anything about it.
Arizona was once ground-zero for anti-immigrant policies and ugly rhetoric. But over the past decade, everything has changed. Organizations like LUCHA and campaigns like Bob’s, when he ran for the Senate and defeated Senate Bill 1070’s sponsor in the Republican primary, brought new voters into the process and have moved our state away from the politics of scapegoating and division.
After these many years of organizing, being anti-immigrant is no longer the path to electoral success in Arizona. It doesn’t work anymore because independents, Republicans and even Trump voters appreciate the contributions that immigrants have madeand agree they have earned a pathway to citizenship.
In Washington, D.C., Republicans are still being held hostage to a backwardlooking minority of their party.
The American Business Immigration Coalition, which Bob co-chairs, held 41 face-to-face meetings with Republican senators to reach a bipartisan immigration agreement. Everyone would have preferred a bipartisan compromise, but hardline Republicans dug in their heels.
The parliamentarian’s recent decision ruling against Democrats’ second attempt at including a path to citizenship in reconciliation does not let Congress off the hook.
Our senators must not use a legislative officer as an excuse for doing nothing. This is the year to pass commonsense immigration solutions.
If the Senate parliamentarian will not follow the clear budgetary path that allows her to include immigration in the reconciliation process, we expect Senators Sinema and Kelly to fight for alternative options to protect as many people as possible.
The same poll specifically asked Arizona voters if they wanted immigration reform included in the budget reconciliation process, even if it was advanced by only one party. There was strong support for Democrats going it alone .
The broader poll showed that senators representing battleground states and districts around the country may lose a net 12 points for voting against immigration reform, but could gain a net 19 points of support for backing earned citizenship.
In Arizona, the poll showed our senators could gain a slightly higher 21 net points for backing the measures — but risk losing a staggering 21 net points of support for voting against immigration reform.
In Arizona and across the country, “Dreamers” are setting up businesses, undocumented farmworkers are driving our agriculture industry, TPS holders are serving as the backbone of health care, hospitality and other industries and essential workers are keeping businesses running during the pandemic.
Their U.S.-citizen friends, co-workers and relatives know they are Americans in every way, except for the paperwork.
Passing immigration reform now, without more delay, makes economic, moral and political sense. For Senators Sinema and Kelly, this should be an easy call.