Sen. Smith pushes bill to help pandemic frontline workers get citizenship

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MINNEAPOLIS – U.S. Senator Tina Smith was in town on Friday to detail her push to create a pathway to citizenship for essential workers.

Businesses leaders, frontline workers, and immigration advocates joined the senator Friday afternoon at Mercado Central in south Minneapolis. According to Smith, it’s estimated that more than 5 million undocumented essential workers across the country continued to work during the pandemic. They filled positions in critical industries such as health care and agriculture.

“Essential workers have always been critical to our overall economic growth and health,” said Jenny Srey with the Coalition of Asian American Leaders. “And as we move forward toward healing they are even more vital now. We need all of our lawmakers to recognize the sacrifices and important role of immigrant workers and use their power to make citizenship a part of the budget reconciliation process.” Continue reading.