The UFW Foundation, the United Farm Workers and farm workers will hold a press conference in front of Senator Alex Padilla’s office in Fresno to thank him for his support advocating for legalization. Sen. Padilla recognizes that Congress must use all tools at their disposal to deliver immigration relief, farm workers expect him to ensure that the House budget process does the same.
On June 21, the Senate Budget Committee, under the leadership of Senator Sanders (I-VT), released a preliminary Senate Democratic budget outline. The budget includes $126 billion to create a program that would put farm workers, Dreamers, TPS holders and other essential workers on a path to legalization, a plan that leverages the budget reconciliation process and is subject to a simple majority vote to pass. In addition to the moral imperative to provide these communities with certainty and protections from deportation, reports indicate that providing a pathway to citizenship for these populations would provide a major boost to the U.S. economy, increasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by $1.5 trillion over 10 years and creating more than 400,000 new jobs.
The budget resolution is up for a vote by Democratic Senators before they leave for August recess. Farm workers, the people the nation relies on for its food security, urge all Senators to ensure that the budget resolution is inclusive of a path to citizenship for farm workers, Dreamers, TPS holders and essential workers.
Among the speakers will be UFW Foundation member Lourdes Cardenas, a 65-year-old undocumented farm worker with more than 16 years of experience in agriculture. Also giving remarks will be UFW Foundation member Silvia Garcia, a DACA recipient who has more than 7 years of experience working in the fields.
Impacted farm workers will be available for interviews before and after the press conference.
WHAT: UFW Foundation, United Farm Workers and farm workers will hold a press conference in front of Senator Alex Padilla’s office to thank him and urge him to continue to fight for farm workers.
WHEN: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 2 p.m. PST.
WHO: Lourdes Cardenas, UFW Foundation member; Sylvia Garcia, DACA recipient and UFW Foundation member.
WHERE: 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 93721.