Immigration Groups Urge Democrats to Make Pathways to Citizenship a Priority

A coalition of more than 150 immigration rights organizations and allies are calling on Democrats to cut funding for federal immigration enforcement agencies and create a pathway for citizenship when the party takes control of the next Congress.

In a letter sent Monday and first shared with Politico, the groups urged Democrats to use their new congressional majorities to “prioritize a bold agenda” on immigration and to hold the Trump administration accountable for the chaos fueled by its immigration crackdown.

The groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, United We Dream and the National Immigration Law Center, also want Congress to block additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol until changes are made to how the agencies operate.

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The groups are asking lawmakers to introduce legislation allowing for smoother pathways for undocumented immigrants to obtain permanent legal status and eventually citizenship, without adding tougher enforcement measures or additional surveillance.

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