Immigrants must be included in the new COVID-19 relief bill

As of this writing, talks between the Democratic and the Republican leaders collapsed as both sides could not agree on major points pertaining to the second stimulus package. The bill would have given Americans another round of stimulus checks, extended the weekly federal unemployment benefit, increased funding for coronavirus response, state and local government assistance and other measures to limit damage to the economy. In response, President Donald Trump vowed to use his power to issue executive orders giving relief to renters against home evictions, student loan debt payment hold, deferral of federal payroll taxes and allowing states to rechannel COVID-19 funds to extend unemployment insurance benefits. He could sign these orders within the weekend.

It is also unclear, either in Mr. Trump's unilateral actions or in the second stimulus bill, if there will be a second round of stimulus checks. Under the CARES Act passed in March 2020, Americans received monetary assistance from the government aside from weekly state and federal unemployment benefits. This time, sending out stimulus checks has been a major impediment for further negotiations as most Republicans are wary of passing another rescue bill.

However, as the talks between both sides continue, they must consider the plight of immigrants. The CARES Act excluded tax-paying immigrants from financial assistance because it explicitly disqualifies those who filed taxes using Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). It also did not include those who have family members of mixed immigration status.

Let us remember that immigrants, legal or undocumented, have also contributed to the war against COVID-19. In fact, they are one of the high-risk groups for contracting the virus since majority of immigrants work in essential businesses and industries. They are the healthcare workers, support staff, cleaners and hospitality, grocers, harvesters, farm workers, meat packers, truckers, etc. It is inhumane for our representatives to leave out these immigrants who dutifully serve their country and who are law-abiding, tax-paying individuals. Past stimulus bills have left them out and it is imperative that at this time of grave health and financial crisis, discrimination of this kind should not be allowed to continue.