Dems make big push to aid illegal immigrants amid coronavirus crisis

close

Video

Pelosi's $3T 'fantasyland' bill makes it easier for illegals to work: Sen. Barrasso

Wyoming Senator John Barrasso addresses accusations Republicans are not focusing on a new stimulus bill and Speaker Pelosi's 'liberal wish list'

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Congressional Democrats and state governments are pushing a range of ways to assist illegal immigrants in their response to the coronavirus crisis, calling for the release of those in detention and lobbying to make them eligible for over a thousand dollars each in stimulus payments.

President Trump, for his part, has responded to the crisis by cracking down on both illegal and legal immigration — slapping travel bans on China, Iran and the European Union and limiting entry on land borders to the north and south, while border officials are immediately returning illegal immigrants and asylum seekers to their home countries.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS' CORONAVIRUS PACKAGE INCLUDES 'AMNESTY' FOR SOME ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, CRITICS SAY

Democrats, however, are taking the opposite approach. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., have introduced a bill that would release immigrants in detention into the country, and halt any immigration enforcement against anyone not deemed a “significant” threat to public safety.

“We have an obligation to do everything we can to prevent the spread of this deadly disease, and that means moving people out of detention centers when they do not pose a public safety risk,” Booker said in a statement. “This is really a matter of life and death: it’s time that we act quickly and decisively to save as many lives as possible, and that means ending the unnecessary detention of immigrants during this public health crisis.”

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Democrats are demanding that the next round of stimulus checks include illegal immigrants by modifying a requirement that recipients have a Social Security number to receive one.

DRUG CARTELS AT THE BORDER TRYING TO 'EXPLOIT' CORONAVIRUS CRISIS, CBP CHIEF SAYS

A $3 trillion bill passed by the Democratic-controlled House last week would allow the $1,200 stimulus checks to go to those who also pay income taxes via an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) — which is used by people who are ineligible for a Social Security number, including illegal immigrants.

As partial justification, Democrats have pointed to so-called mixed families, in which there are American citizens or legal permanent residents, as well as illegal immigrants, in one family. They file using an ITIN and so far have not been eligible for aid.

“The Supreme Court ruled that children, undocumented children should have a right to education in our country. Why not then should citizens’ children, children in taxpayers’ families, not have the opportunity to the checks that they need?” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said on a press call this month.

But it’s an idea that has drawn strong criticism, even mockery, from Republicans who believe that aid should be reserved only to citizens and those here legally.

“Can you believe it? We forgot to have the Treasury Department send money to people here illegally. My goodness. What an oversight,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on the Senate floor last week.

The bill also included protections for “essential critical infrastructure workers” that would allow some illegal immigrants employed as such to be placed into “a period of deferred action” and be authorized to work if they meet certain conditions.

It also grants protections to those employers who hire illegal immigrants, stating that “the hiring, employment or continued employment” of the defined group of illegal immigrants is not in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The move was flagged by Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Ken Cuccinelli as a push by Democrats to grant "amnesty" to illegal immigrants and protection to those who employ them.

“Is it really a good idea to not only grant an amnesty to illegal aliens but to absolve employers who have been breaking the law in the last few months?” he tweeted. “I don't think so!”

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR $100 MILLION 'RELIEF FUND' FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Meanwhile, some state governments have been seeking to make sure illegal immigrants receive money and argue they should have been included in the last round of stimulus.

The Seattle City Council is calling on Washington state to create a $100 million “relief fund” for illegal immigrants who did not qualify for the federal stimulus checks issued last month.

Video

The city’s council passed a resolution Monday asking Gov. Jay Inslee to create a “Washington Worker Relief Fund” to provide “economic assistance to undocumented Washingtonians during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Meanwhile in California, the state has opened up about $75 million for a fund to help roughly 150,000 illegal immigrants in the state. It gives them access to a coronavirus relief program that will pay $500 per person and up to $1,000 per household.

The developments come as Democrats continue to shift left on immigration issues to the backdrop of the presidential race, drawing contrasts with Republicans who, along with the Trump administration, have advocated even tougher policies.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP

Democrats have opposed a host of Trump’s border security measures, including the wall at the southern border and the “Remain-in-Mexico” policy, while a number of top Democrats and presidential contenders have backed calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to give health care and other social services to illegal immigrants.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, meanwhile, has been on record calling for health care for illegal immigrants, as well as a 100-day moratorium on deportations if he wins the election in November.