Immigrant Youth and Allies Rallied Outside Leader Schumer’s Home Demanding He Deliver Citizenship for Millions Through Reconciliation

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Every minute without a pathway to citizenship, is another minute undocumented communities are left vulnerable to the grips of ICE and CBP.

New York – Today, immigrant youth and allies from United We Dream Action, DRUM, Make the Road New York, Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH) and others took action outside of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s home in Brooklyn, New York, urging him to commit to passing citizenship for millions this year through reconciliation. 

Today’s rally is part of United We Dream Action’s “No Citizenship, No Rest” week of action where immigrant youth have rallied across the country to demand President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats in Congress deliver citizenship by any means necessary. 

Marvin Argueta, Brooklyn resident and U Squad Leader with United We Dream Action said:

“I am a DACA recipient and live in a mixed status family. For me and my parents –and my sibling who has DACA – living undocumented means that we continue to live under the threat of deportation. It means my parents are unable to have steady work opportunities with higher wages. While DACA has brought a temporary sense of stability in my life, I’ve seen every attack against the program and the way my life and the lives of hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth are left vulnerable. I have a fear that if I were to be deported to El Salvador, I would be targeted as someone who is queer. 

New York is my home. It’s my family’s home. And we deserve to live knowing that we won’t be ripped from our loved ones. Majority Leader Schumer and all Democrats in Congress can and must pass citizenship for millions of people this year. Our families cannot wait a minute longer.”

Bryan Pagoada, Youth Organizer and Member of CUFFH, said: 

“There are 11M+ undocumented folks in this country who have been waiting for congress to act for generations to receive equal access to healthcare, jobs, and more, and we will wait NO longer. Today, we are demanding that Senator Schumer disregard the parliamentarian’s vote and instead deliver a path to citizenship as he promised. No citizenship, no relief.”

Yaritza Mendez, Co-Director of Organizing at Make the Road New York, said:

 “Immigrant communities across the country are counting on Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Democratic leaders to deliver a pathway to citizenship for millions. In this critical moment, Senator Schumer holds the power to lead Democrats to include a pathway to citizenship in the federal budget reconciliation package. For decades, immigrants have relentlessly organized and fought for long-lasting relief for undocumented people and we will not give up until a path to citizenship becomes a reality.”

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United We Dream Action is the leading national network fighting for dignity and justice led by immigrant youth and allies. We are a dynamic community of thousands of immigrant youth nationwide who build independent political power for those directly impacted by injustice. We organize and take action to win victories so that all people can be safe and thrive.