Chicago, IL – “As a network of immigrant-led organizations, we found President Biden’s commitment to ensure that wealthy individuals and corporations pay their fair share in taxes as a long overdue initiative. Sadly, one of the most consequential problems in American society today is the state of economic inequality, measured by the way in which wealth and income are distributed. The only effective way to tackle this challenge is via a truly fair and progressive tax law. Therefore, President Biden’s focus on this matter is a welcome development for Latin American and Caribbean immigrant communities,” stated Oscar Chacón, Alianza Americas’ executive director. “Similarly, President Biden’s emphasis on strengthening programs that would ultimately result in elevating social and economic standards for the majority in our society, is also welcome news for immigrant communities,” added Chacón.

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“Regretfully, President Biden spoke about immigration using rhetoric from the most racist and darkest corners of our society. No human being is illegal, and the President should have instead used this opportunity to uplift the human values immigrants bring to our country”, said Dulce Dominguez, Deputy Director of Institutional Development at Alianza Americas. “This was a missed opportunity to advance a positive narrative around migrants and migration, an element we have insisted on since his inauguration,” added Ms. Dominguez.

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“We acknowledge that the bipartisan bill the president mentioned last night contains elements that could result in positive changes: an increase in immigration judges and asylum officers, and funds for legal representation. However, modernizing the immigration system and making it more efficient does not need to come at the expense of migrants’ due process rights, nor should it be compensated with massive and swift deportations” continued Ms. Dominguez. “The president did not say a word about improving social, economic, and political conditions in Latin America and the Caribbean. In doing so, he is renouncing his innovative promise from four years ago to address the root causes that keep forcing so many people to flee their countries,” concluded Ms. Dominguez.

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Alianza Americas is the premier transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations working in the United States, across the Americas, and globally to create an inclusive, equitable and sustainable way of life for communities across North, Central and South America.