CHICAGO, IL – September 21, 2023 – Today, immigrant leaders, elected officials, and community members gathered to applaud President Joe Biden and the administration for Venezuelan migrants in the U.S. who will be redesignated for Temporary Protective Status (TPS.) 

“We believe immigrants should be able to come to the U.S. and should be able to apply for a work permit, should be able to provide for their families, and should be able to achieve their dreams, said Erendira Rendon, Vice President of Immigrant Justice at The Resurrection Project (TRP.) “Undocumented immigrants should also be able to apply for work permits through parole.”

22^nd Ward Alderman Michael Rodriguez said, “We need migrants in our great city and our great country to continue the economic vitality that’s been a hallmark of our great country. We call on the President to extend work permits for all immigrants.”

25^th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez said, “We welcome the announcement of President Biden to allow 500-thousand Venezuelan people to be able to have access to work permits. However, even though this a step in the right direction we believe that it’s only fair and just that we don’t forget about the other 11-million people that are waiting for immigration reform.”

TPS will allow more than 470,000 migrants from Venezuela to apply for a work permit. Additionally, the Biden administration has provided parole and work authorization to nearly 550,000 migrants from certain countries over the past year. These actions prove that the President has broad authority to grant work permits to immigrants.

Work permits though parole is the solution to a broken system. We are a nation of immigrants, the time to act is now.

Thank you to our partners: Southwest Organizing Project, Binational Institute for Human Development, Enlace Chicago, Centro Sin Fronteras, Lincoln United Methodist Church, Chicago Community and Worker’s Rights, Chicago Workers’ Collaborative, Mujeres Latinas en Accion, Erie Neighborhood House, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, Latino Policy Forum, Instituto del Progreso Latino, Pilsen Neighbors Community Council, La Casa Norte, State Representative Theresa Mah, Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Alderman Mike Rodriguez, and LULAC Councils 5294,5311,5312,5313,5314,5318,5319,5320,5321,5322,5323,5324,5325 

Click here to watch the press conference.

The Resurrection Project (TRP) builds trusting relationships to educate and propel individuals, immigrants, and families to achieve their social and economic aspirations, stable homes, and equitable participation in their community. TRP is a leading provider of affordable housing, financial education, and immigration services on Chicago’s Southwest side. 
 
For more than three decades TRP has worked to improve the lives of individuals and families by creating wealth, building assets, and engaging residents to be catalysts for change. Rooted in the Pilsen community, TRP’s impact now extends across the City of Chicago and through the State of Illinois; we are making steady progress towards leveraging and preserving more than $1 billion in community wealth by 2025.