NDLON Responds to House Passage of Senate Coronavirus Stimulus Legislation

New York, NY – In response to House passage of the Senate’s coronavirus stimulus legislation (still pending signature by Donald Trump), the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) reaffirmed its calls for a worker migrant justice plan to ensure undocumented workers and families are not excluded in coronavirus response and called on local and state leaders to ensure they don’t replicate the same exclusions as in the federal bill.

“The stimulus package reflects the skewed priorities of this administration, which views migrant workers only as useful targets for him to scapegoat. But a serious public health response cannot exclude an entire population, because a virus does not check immigration status or social security numbers,” said Nadia Marin Molina, NDLON Co-Director, based in New York.

As signed by Donald Trump, the new stimulus package excludes undocumented workers and families. The workers with the lowest wages, who most need immediate cash assistance, will not receive it, while the corporations who hire workers and benefit from their low wage labor will receive $500 billion in support.

“By dehumanizing and excluding migrants, the legislation has failed to protect the lives of everyone living in the United States. Local and state governments need to show a real contrast to trumpism, to step in and ensure they do not replicate these exclusions. Undocumented workers are essential workers, and must be included,” added Marin-Molina.

Two weeks ago, NDLON released a set of Worker Migrant Justice recommendations to (1) ensure access to testing and treatment; (2) secure paid sick leave, unemployment benefits, and workplace protections for undocumented and low wage workers; (3) eliminate the threat of ICE and CBP; (4) provide economic assistance for all workers, especially those most vulnerable and unable to access federal assistance; and (5) release and protect over 50,000 people in ICE/DHS custody, and another 60,000 asylum seekers forced into MPP, blocked from reaching their families and communities in the US.

As part of grassroots mutual aid efforts, NDLON has also launched an Immigrant Worker Safety Net Fund in order to collect funds to distribute to provide immediate resources so excluded workers can take care of themselves and their families.

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