Meng Introduces Legislation to Extend Work Permits for Immigrants During COVID-19

Statement

Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, announced the introduction of legislation that seeks to extend work permits for immigrants, many of whom are serving as essential workers on the frontlines of combating the coronavirus pandemic.

Meng's bill, the COVID-19 Employment Authorization Document Extension Act, would automatically extend the length of all work permits by one year, beginning from the date that the coronavirus public health emergency declaration is lifted. The measure would also be retroactive, applying to work permits that were valid at the time of the emergency declaration but were expired before the enactment of this bill.

"Everyone is playing a role to help combat the novel coronavirus and that includes essential employees who are working tirelessly each and every day to provide the critical services we need and depend on," said Meng. "Many of these workers are immigrants who are transit employees, grocery store employees, health care workers, and so many other unsung heroes. The contributions and sacrifices that they are making are critical to saving lives and fighting this outbreak. We must ensure that those with expiring work permits are able to have them automatically extended so that they can continue to protect everyone, and help our nation get through this crisis. Passing this legislation would be the right and responsible thing to do which is why I call on all of my colleagues to immediately support it."

"The COVID-19 crisis has drastically impacted the working-class Nepali-speaking community in Queens and low-wage workers in other parts of the country," said Pabitra Khati Benjamin, Executive Director of Adhikaar. "The COVID-19 Employment Authorization Document Extension Act would bring much-needed relief to the 15,000 Nepali TPS holders in this country. Adhikaar, a worker and community center in Queens, New York, has been fighting for TPS holders since 2015. This Act would also greatly benefit others in the community waiting for their asylum cases to be processed or are up for renewal in this unstable time period. These immigrants are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight right now and they live and work as essential workers in the epicenter of this crisis. A valid EAD at this moment, more than ever, is vital to the survival of these communities. They must be protected."

"Our national response to the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed how workers of various immigration statuses are essential to our country's health and future, including those whose work authorization will soon expire," said Diego Iñiguez-López, Policy and Campaigns Manager of the National Partnership for New Americans. "The COVID-19 Employment Authorization Document Extension Act moves us toward recognizing all workers on the frontlines, regardless of their immigration status, and affirms our interdependency."

"While many of us are home practicing social distancing, millions of people still go to work every day to do jobs vital to the health and safety of our communities," said Eric Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at UnidosUS. "Hundreds of thousands of these workers, already fully vetted by the U.S. government, depend on the regular renewal of their work permits to keep their jobs. That's why UnidosUS strongly supports the introduction of this bill and the automatic renewal of these documents. These essential workers, their families and their employers deserve stability and predictability in times like these, not needless government red tape."

"The Trump administration's attacks on immigrant women -- their ability to work, their access to health care, including reproductive health care, unification with their families -- have been relentless," said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum. "Meanwhile, immigrant women are working on the frontlines of this crisis at enormous personal sacrifice. Work authorization is essential to immigrants' economic stability and allows them to make critical decisions about their lives -- the right to work is fundamental and goes to the heart of agency and self-determination."

"One Nation is proud to endorse the COVID-19 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Extension Act," said the One Nation Commission. "We honor our essential workers, many of whom are immigrants. We must support them and their ongoing contributions and sacrifice to our nation and regions."

Meng's legislation is endorsed by New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC); Adhikaar; National Partnership for New Americans; UnidosUS; Allianza Americas; National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF); OneAmerica; One Nation; and Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.

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