Dear Neighbor,

As you know all too well by now, there isn't a member of our community who has not been impacted by the coronavirus. This disease knows no borders and sees no race or religion. Biologically, it is an equal-opportunity invader, attacking wherever and whomever it can without discrimination. 

The human reaction to this virus, however, is not nearly as equitable as the pathogen itself. Vulnerable populations in our country are too often left to manage this crisis alone, met with offers of inadequate support at best, and outright hostility at worst. 

This discrepancy is strikingly apparent among immigrant communities. Latinx individuals, for example, make up 18% of the total US population, yet they account for 28% of all COVID-19 deaths, according to the CDC. The population of Fairfax County is nearly 17% Hispanic, yet available data suggests that Hispanic individuals account for nearly 3 out of every 5 positive cases in the county.

That is outrageous, and must be addressed.

I am a proud cosponsor of the Coronavirus Immigrant Families Protection Act, which would:
  • Halt the implementation of the Trump administration's harmful public charge rule;

  • Ensure that any benefits received during the pandemic do not count as a negative factor in future immigration status determinations;

  • Prohibit discrimination based on immigration status in any program funded by the coronavirus relief bills;

  • Expand emergency Medicaid services to all immigrants, and extend the Disaster SNAP program to allow individuals and families impacted by the pandemic to receive individual assistance from FEMA;

  • Allow individuals who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number to receive cash benefits or rebates under any COVID-19 response law;

  • Require Agencies that receive funding under a coronavirus law to ensure that all programs and opportunities are translated into the most frequently encountered languages in order to ensure that everyone has understanding and access of the resources available to them; and

  • Modify immigration policies that would deter immigrants from seeking health services for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency by suspending in-person ICE checks, the detention and removal of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, and immigration enforcement actions at or in transit to and from sensitive locations such as a hospital, food banks, courthouses, schools, churches, and domestic violence shelters.
Additionally, I have written to congressional leaders and multiple administration officials, and have been outspoken in urging them to prioritize the needs of immigrants and immigrant communities battling COVID-19. For example, I led 38 of my colleagues in the House in urging DHS Acting Secretary Wolf to exclude COVID-19-related assistance from the public charge determination for immigrants seeking admission or an adjustment of status.

I've also urged:
  • House and Senate leadership to prioritize legislative language ensuring that all individuals, regardless of immigration status, have access to testing and treatment and prevent any public charge considerations;

  • HHS Secretary Azar and Acting DHS Secretary Wolf to release unaccompanied children from detention and implement CDC practices to avoid the spread of COVID-19 infection;

  • Acting ICE Director Albence to release nonviolent ICE detainees from immigrant detention facilities, including in Caroline County and Farmville, Virginia.

  • Acting DHS Secretary Wolf, Attorney General Barr, and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to stop ongoing wall construction at the southern border as the nation responds to COVID-19.

  • Senate Majority Leader McConnell to hold a vote this month on H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019, especially since over 330,000 DACA recipients and TPS holders are essential critical infrastructure workers.

  • President Trump and Vice President Pence to distribute COVID-19 related public safety guidance, benefit eligibility requirements, and application materials in Spanish and other languages.

  • Acting DHS Secretary Wolf to automatically extend employment authorization for all immigrants whose employment authorization documents expire within one year of the date of the letter, or 90 days after the expiration of the national emergency declaration for COVID-19.

  • Secretary DeVos to reverse the Department of Education’s decision to bar DACA, TPS, and DED recipients and undocumented students from eligibility for the emergency assistance included in the CARES Act.

  • House leadership to include refugee assistance in COVID-19 emergency legislation, including funding for refugee admissions and direct assistance for refugees, and the extension of validity periods for visas and security checks to account for coronavirus-related delays.
This is a global crisis, and no one is immune to its effects. It's up to us to ensure our response is equally universal. I intend to keep fighting until that happens. 

Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other, and remember that my office is here to help. Be sure to visit the COVID-19 page on my website for more information and resources. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you need assistance, please don't hesitate to call us at (703) 256-3071. 

Sincerely,
Gerald E. Connolly
Member of Congress
###

     

Washington, DC Office
2238 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-1492

Annandale Office
4115 Annandale Road, Ste. 103
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: (703) 256-3071
Fax: (703) 354-1284

Prince William Office
2241-D Tacketts Mill Drive
Woodbridge, VA 22192
Phone: (571) 408-4407
Fax: (571) 408-4708


 
Unsubscribe | Visit My Website | Privacy Policy