Coronavirus Immigrant Families Protection Act

Rural Coalition and its members have expressed their deep concern about the exclusion of immigrant families in previous COVID-19 packages.  The Coronavirus Immigrant Families Protection Act (H.R. 6437) addresses these concerns.

The bill would fill critical gaps in the previous Coronavirus response legislative packages that unjustly excluded immigrant families. Sponsored by Senators Mazie Hirono (HI) and Kamala Harris (CA), and numerous others, with Reps Judy Chu (CA), Raul Grijalva and over 60 Representatives, the bill would ensure that all communities are able to access COVID-19 testing and treatment.

The House cosponsors of H.R. 6437 are HERE

The Bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Committees on the Judiciary, Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure (Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management), and Ways and Means.

Inclusion of this Act in the next package would help ensure equitable access to vital resources for all communities during this pandemic!

MORE INFORMATION

The Coronavirus Immigrant Families Protection Act will:

  • Modify immigration policies that would deter immigrants from seeking health services for the duration of the Coronavirus emergency and for 60 days after the emergency ends, including suspending the public charge rules, in-person ICE checks, and the immigration detention and deportation of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking who have pending immigration applications; and suspending immigration enforcement actions at or in transit to/from sensitive locations, such as hospitals, courthouses, domestic violence shelters, and other sensitive locations.

  • Ensure that everyone has access to COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccines by providing Medicaid coverage of COVID-19-related services to everyone, regardless of immigration status; and prohibiting discrimination in any program funded by a coronavirus relief bill based on actual or perceived immigration status.

  • Provide $100 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide language access and public outreach on coronavirus preparedness, response, and recovery to hard-to-reach populations—including minorities, those with limited English proficiency, and those with disabilities. 

  • Ensure access to COVID relief measures for vulnerable communities by allowing immigrant taxpayers to access cash relief benefits with an individual tax identification number (ITIN); and automatically extending expiring work authorization for immigrants during the coronavirus emergency for the same time period as was previously authorized.

The following organizations have endorsed this bill:

  • Rural Coalition - Washington, DC

  • Alianza Naciónal de Campesinas - Oxnard, CA

  • ActionAid USA - Washington DC

  • Alabama State Association of Cooperatives - Epes, AL

  • American Federation of Government Employees - St. Louis, MIssouri

  • American Indian Mothers, Inc. - North Carolina

  • Carl Wilmsen Consulting - Albany, CA

  • CASA del LlanoINC - Hereford, TX

  • Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture - San Francisco, CA

  • Community Farm Alliance - Louisville, KY

  • Cottage House, Inc. - Ariton, AL

  • Episcopal Farmworker Ministry - Dunn, NC

  • ERS and EES Association Laredo, TX

  • Family Farm Action - Mexico, MO

  • Farm Aid - Cambridge, MA

  • Farm to Table NM - Santa Fe, NM

  • Farmworker Association of Florida - Apopka, FL

  • Friends of the Earth - Berkeley, CA

  • Just Food - New York, NY

  • Just Transition Alliance - San Diego, CA

  • Kansas Black Farmers Association - Kansas

  • Mississippi Association of Cooperatives - Jackson,MS

  • National Farm to School Network - Washington, DC

  • National Immigrant Farming Initiative - Washington, DC

  • National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association - Washington, DC

  • National Young Farmers Coalition - Washington, DC

  • New Mexico Food & Agriculture Policy Council - Santa Fe, NM

  • NOFA-RI Northeast Organic Farming Association - Warren, RI

  • Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York - Syracuse, NY

  • Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire - Concord, NH

  • Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont - Richmond, VT

  • Northeast Organic Farming Association-Interstate Council -Stillwater, NY

  • Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group - Kingston, NY

  • Organic Consumers Association - Finland, MN

  • Pesticide Action Network - Berkeley, CA

  • Rural Advancement Fund of the National Sharecroppers Fund - Orangeburg, SC

  • Rural Development Leadership Network - New York, NY

  • Sierra Club - Oakland, CA

  • Slow Food California - Sacramento, CA

  • Slow Food New York State - NY

  • Slow Food Sonoma County North - Healdsburg, CA

  • Slow Food USA - Brooklyn, NY

  • Student Action with Farmworkers - Durham, NC

  • Toxic Free NC - Durham, NC

  • Winston County Self Help Cooperative - Louisville, MS

  • World Farmers - Lancaster, MA