September 9, 2020
The Honorable Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer:
As organizations concerned with the well-being of children, youth, and families, we urge Congress to pass critically needed relief for all families in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cash assistance that was included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was essential for meeting families’ basic needs during this difficult time. However, millions of children live in families that were excluded from the CARES Act despite paying taxes in the United States. In addition, months have passed since the stimulus payments were disbursed, and families continue to need help paying for basic survival needs.
We believe all children and families must get the help they need to stay safe, healthy, and make ends meet during this time of crisis, including mixed-status immigrant families.
The tax-paying families of an estimated 3.5 million children were unfairly excluded from CARES Act economic support, and the vast majority of these children are U.S. citizens. They were excluded simply because at least one parent filed taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number rather than a Social Security number.
Not only is it unfair to exclude any taxpayer from federal relief, but it is morally wrong to allow children to suffer poverty and hardship because of their parents’ immigration status.
Children of immigrants make up a quarter of the U.S. child population, and their well-being is tied to our collective future. The effects of poverty and toxic stress on children can harm their developing bodies and minds for the long term. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we are all deeply connected, and the only way we are going to come out of the crisis a stronger nation is if we ensure every member of our community has access to the assistance they need.
At this time of crisis, immigrants are taking on unprecedented stress and risks, filling essential roles in health and personal care and the food supply chain, which benefit all of us. Immigrants are at great risk of contracting the virus because of their public-facing, caregiving, and mass-production roles. These workers need assistance to meet the basic needs of their children and families.
We can do better for all of our children and the immigrants who are contributing to this country. We urge Congress to swiftly pass a COVID-19 relief bill that ensures children in mixed-status families are eligible for economic stimulus payments under the CARES Act and includes an additional stimulus payment to help families in need.
Sincerely,
National Organizations
- Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors
- Advocating Opportunity
- Alianza Americas
- All Our Kin
- American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
- Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
- Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
- Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO)
- Border Network for Human Rights
- Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities
- Center for Disability Rights
- Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
- Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement & Research
- Center for the Study of Social Policy
- Child Care Aware of America
- Child Welfare League of America
- ChildFund International
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Children’s HealthWatch
- Coalition on Human Needs
- Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S Provinces
- Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries
- Educare Learning Network
- Families Belong Together
- Families USA
- First Focus on Children
- Franciscan Action Network
- Freedom Network USA
- Futures Without Violence
- Hispanic Federation
- IDRA (Intercultural Development Research Association)
- Justice for Migrant Women
- Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
- KIPP
- League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
- Mi Familia Vota
- MomsRising
- National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
- National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- National Association of Social Workers
- National Center for Children in Poverty
- National Council on Independent Living
- National Domestic Workers Alliance
- National Education Association
- National Health Law Program
- National Immigration Law Center
- National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild
- National Juvenile Justice Network
- National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
- National Parents Union
- National Partnership for New Americans
- National WIC Association
- NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
- Next100
- Partnership for America’s Children
- Poligon Education Fund
- Project Lifeline
- Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK)
- Save the Children Action Network
- Shriver Center on Poverty Law
- Sisters of St. Francis Justice, Peace and Integrity Committee Creation Committee
- South Texas Human Rights Center
- Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
- The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation
- The Education Trust
- UNICEF USA
- UnidosUS
- United Migrant Opportunity Services
- United Parent Leaders Action Network (UPLAN)
- United We Dream Action
- Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights
- ZERO TO THREE
State Organizations
- ¡HICA!, AL
- Alabama Arise, AL
- Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children, AZ
- Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, AZ
- Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, AR
- Asian Resources, Inc., CA
- California Food Policy Advocates, CA
- California Immigrant Policy Center, CA
- California Primary Care Association, CA
- California WIC Association, CA
- Californians Together, CA
- Child Care Services Association, NC
- CHILDREN AT RISK, TX
- Children Now, CA
- Children’s Action Alliance, AZ
- Children’s Advocacy Alliance, NV
- Children’s Defense Fund – CA
- Children’s Defense Fund – MN
- Children’s Defense Fund – NY
- Children’s Defense Fund – OH
- Children’s Defense Fund – TX
- Children’s Institute, OR
- Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, CA
- Colorado Center on Law and Policy, CO
- Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, CO
- Colorado Children’s Campaign, CO
- Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, & Research Organization (CLLARO), CO
- Common Good Iowa, IA
- Comunidades Unidas, UT
- Early Edge California, CA
- Economic Progress Institute, RI
- Equality North Carolina, NC
- Every Texan, TX
- Florida Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics, Inc., FL
- Food Lifeline, WA
- GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, GA
- HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE, CA
- Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network, HI
- Holy Trinity Region Secular Franciscans, KY
- Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, ID
- Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, IL
- Illuminate Colorado, CO
- Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children, IN
- Jolt Action, TX
- Kansas Action for Children, KS
- Latino Coalition for a Healthy CA, CA
- Latino Policy Forum, IL
- Let’s Grow Kids, VT
- Little Library CT Corp, CT
- Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, LA
- Maine Association for the Education of Young Children, ME
- Maine Business Immigration Coalition, ME
- Maine Center for Economic Policy, ME
- Marion County Commission on Youth, Inc., IN
- Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children, MD
- Maryland Center on Economic Policy, MD
- Mexican American Legislative Caucus, TX
- Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, MI
- Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative, MS
- National Association of Social Workers – Texas Chapter, TX
- NC Child, NC
- New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, NM
- NM Center on Law and Poverty, NM
- North Carolina Justice Center, NC
- NYS American Academy of Pediatrics, NY
- Oklahoma Policy Institute, OK
- Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children, OR
- Our Children Oregon, OR
- Partners for Our Children, WA
- PASOs, SC
- Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children, PA
- Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, RI
- Santa Fe Dreamers Project, NM/TX
- Santos en Virginia, VA
- SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center, SC
- South Carolina Assoc. for the Education of Young Children, SC
- Southwest Human Development, AZ
- Tennessee Justice Center, TN
- Texas State Teachers Association, TX
- The Children’s Partnership, CA
- Tri-State Franciscan Solidarity Table, OH/IN/KY
- Violence Free Colorado, CO
- Virginia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, VA
- Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations, VA
- Voices for Utah Children, UT
- Voices for Vermont’s Children, VT
- Washington State Parent Ambassadors, WA
- Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center, NJ
- Zero to Five Montana, MT
Local Organizations
- Alianza NORCO, CO
- AltaMed Health Services, CA
- Casa San Jose, PA
- Central American Resource Center, DC
- Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, NY
- Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, NY
- Community Action Marin, CA
- Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, CA
- Foundation for Tacoma Students, WA
- Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, NY
- GoAEYC- Golden corridor Association for the Education of Young Children, IL
- Hispanic Services Council, FL
- Hispanic Unity of Florida, FL
- Identity, Inc., MD
- Kidango, CA
- KIPP SoCal Public Schools, CA
- La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), TX
- Latin American Community Center, DE
- LAUNCH Together SW Denver, CO
- Lawrence CommunityWorks, MA
- Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, CA
- Maternal and Child Health Access, CA
- Mexican American Unity Council, Inc., TX
- Neighborhood House, WA
- Operation Access, CA
- SOAR, WA
- Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children, AZ
- Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, WA
- Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin, OH
- The HANA Center, IL
- West Central Initiative, MN
- West Valley Neighborhoods Coalition, AZ
