Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke Introduces US Citizenship Act of 2023 to the US House
WASHINGTON, DC – Caribbean American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke on Wednesday joined her California counterpart, Linda T. Sánchez, in introducing in the United States House of Representatives the US Citizenship Act of 2023 that Clarke described as “a bold, inclusive and humane vision for the future of the United States immigration system.”
Clarke – the daughter of Jamaican immigrants – said the legislation would equip America to responsibly manage the border with “smart and effective investments, address the root causes of migration that force people to leave Central America, and restore the United States’ commitment to human rights.”
The congresswoman who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York said the measure would provide “millions of hardworking, undocumented immigrants with a pathway to earned citizenship”, including Dreamers, Temporary Protective Status (TPS) recipients such as Haitians, and essential workers who have made “enormous sacrifices” during the pandemic.
The legislation would also prioritize family reunification, keep families together and bolster the country’s long-term economic growth.
“Immigrants, regardless of status, contribute billions every year in taxes and form a critical part of the American economy. Still, many can’t access the vital safety provisions migrant communities rely on to survive and thrive. That’s why I’m proud to support the US Citizenship Act – legislation that aligns with our vision for fixing America’s broken and outdated immigration system, once and for all,” said Congresswoman Clarke.
“Only Congress can provide immigrants with a path to citizenship, and it’s past time we create a roadmap for citizenship for the people who already live and work in America, including Dreamers, as well as modernize the employment and family visa systems,” she added.
“Those who fled persecution and violence deserve a fair process from America,” Clarke continued. “We have an opportunity to level the playing field in the labour market, boost our economy, and more. And that work begins with the US Citizenship Act.”
Sánchez, the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico, said she was “honored to introduce the US Citizenship Act—a bold, transformative framework that will help fix our broken immigration system.
“The US Citizenship Act will help us grow our economy, make our borders safer and more secure, and deliver a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants already living and working here,” she said.
Clarke said the US Citizenship Act establishes a moral and economic imperative and a vision of immigration reform that is expansive and inclusive.
Additionally, she said, it creates an earned roadmap to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants, providing Dreamers, TPS holders, and some farmworkers with an immediate path to citizenship, and providing all other undocumented immigrants who pass background checks and pay taxes with a five-year path to citizenship without fear of deportation.
Clarke also noted that the legislation reforms the family-based immigration system to keep families together by recapturing visas from previous years to clear backlogs, including spouses and children of green card holders as immediate family members, and increasing per-country caps for family-based immigration.
In addition to Congresswoman Clarke, the legislation is cosponsored by 100 members of the US House of Representatives.
