SIREN Statement on Parliamentary Ruling Excluding Citizenship from Budget Reconciliation Process

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For Immediate Release:

 September 20, 2021 

Contact: Jose Servin, Director of Advocacy and Communications, SIREN 

jose@sirenimmigrantrights.org, 714-728-2520 

SIREN Statement on Parliamentary Ruling Excluding Citizenship from Budget Reconciliation Process 

California – Today, Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled against Democrat efforts to create a path to citizenship through the budget reconciliation process, citing that the measures effect to the budget would be “merely incidental,” in a three-page memo sent to the Associated Press.

Democrats pledged to continue pushing for a pathway to Citizenship by attempting to convince the parliamentarian of the legislation's budgetary relevance through ongoing negotiations, though they can take bolder measures if they truly want to pass bold immigration legislation. For example, they can decide to abolish the obstructionist filibuster, and then pass the legislation with a simple majority, or Vice President Kamala Harris could decide to overrule the parliamentarians decision. 

“It is imperative that we seize this opportunity at a time when Democrats control the house, the senate, and the white house. This nation is in desperate need of change, and that starts with immigration. Failure to act boldly on immigration would only hurt us all,” said Maricela Gutierrez, Executive Director of the Services, Immigration Rights and Education Network (SIREN).

SIREN stands with the undocumented community throughout this political battle, and recognizes that each legislative decision carries a heavy emotional toll. 

We support the DACA and TPS recipients, essential workers, and farm workers whose lives could change for the better through this legislation. At the same time, we continue to advocate for those who would be left out by these efforts, namely Black immigrants and people of color who are prosecuted and detained at disproportionate rates by U.S Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE). 

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