Planned Parenthood Calls on Congress To Pass Just and Inclusive Immigration Legislation 

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the the American Dream and Promise Act, introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA-40), and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-13) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4). Representatives Roybal-Allard and Lofgren introduced similar versions of these bills last Congress. 

The American Dream and Promise Act will provide a pathway to citizenship for 3 million Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, alongside other eligible immigrant youth, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act will provide a path for agricultural workers to earn legal status while working in the United States and reform the H-2A temporary worker visa program. 

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO,  Planned Parenthood Federation of America: 

“No one’s health, safety, or rights should be compromised because of their immigration status. At Planned Parenthood, we remain committed to a world where access to health care, including sexual and reproductive care, is a human right for everyone — including people of all immigration statuses. We stand firmly against sexual and physical abuse, forced sterilizations like we saw at the Irwin County ICE Detention Center in Georgia, inadequate care and mistreatment of pregnant people, and limited reproductive health services for immigrants. As Congress begins to tackle the many unjust aspects of our current immigration system, Planned Parenthood stands in support of policies that will end inhumane criminalization and incarceration of immigrants and refugees — people seeking basic human rights, who face institutionalized abuse, harassment, and discrimination. And we join our partners in demanding Congress create a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants and remove the outstanding barriers for access to health care.”

While the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act are critical steps in the right direction, these bills leave in place barriers that exclude some immigrants from accessing health care, and leave immigrants vulnerable to racial profiling and an unjust criminal justice system. This comes as Black and Brown people in the U.S. continue to fight for the right to live without fear of police brutality and systemic racism, and some families separated at the border have yet to be reunited. Planned Parenthood stands with the Movement for Black Lives, which includes Black immigrants, and will follow their lead in the fight for justice. Planned Parenthood is committed to investing in dismantling the barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health care, and speaking out about other forms of systemic racism and racial violence. 

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.