Van Hollen Statement on U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the introduction of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021:

“Immigrants are essential to our communities, contributing to our economy as a whole, and often working on the front lines to defeat COVID-19. The U.S. Citizenship Act marks an important step forward to reform the immigration process for our country. I’m pleased to see this sweeping plan to reverse the Trump administration’s backward immigration policies that were not only morally repugnant but also harmed our economy and compromised our nation’s ideals. This bill provides an expanded pathway to citizenship for hardworking people who make our communities stronger every day. It also provides certainty to our Dreamers, TPS recipients, and essential workers who have risked their lives to serve and protect our communities. This legislation will not only strengthen our economy, it will also augment Social Security. It also modernizes our border security strategies, better targets transnational gangs, and helps address the root causes of migration.  I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation, and I look forward to working with the Biden Administration and my colleagues to strengthen our immigration system so that it reflects our values and ensures our nation’s long-term success.”