Most agree that it was necessary for Congress to pass some form of aid for Americans. Both Democrats and Republicans decided direct payments for Americans would be a good measure to take.
Who should receive aid, however, is apparently up for debate.
While Republicans only want American citizens to receive funds, since it is American money after all, Democrats wish to expand eligibility to non-citizens, including those in the country illegally.
Who are the biggest proponents of supplying aid to illegal aliens?
Why, the Squad of course!
Composed of Representatives Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, the Squad has been working overtime this week to put American money in the hands of foreigners.
The New York Post has this to say on the Squads latest endeavours:
Members of “The Squad” have a host of proposals for the next coronavirus relief package — and believe benefits should be extended to illegal immigrants.
On Tuesday, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) called for the next package to guarantee relief for individuals who are not in the country legally and even those who are incarcerated.
“We need to continue to make federal investments in our community health centers,” the first-term lawmaker said in an MSNBC appearance. “We need to center the humanity of every individual family and workers and that includes not leaving behind undocumented and uninsured.”
“We have to continue to make investments to support vulnerable populations like those experiencing homelessness, incarcerated men and women. We’re focused right now making sure the CARES Act in its implementation is one that is in urgent need and mitigating the hurt that so many of our families are experiencing — all of our families are experiencing right now,” she continued.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) issued a proposal calling for the federal government to immediately issue debit cards pre-loaded with $2,000 to every person in the US, including to those who have been here for as little as three months. The card would be recharged with $1,000 monthly “until one year after the end of the coronavirus crisis.”
She offers to pay for it by having the US Mint print two $1 trillion coins, which her plan says would then be purchased by the Federal Reserve “at full face value.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is calling for families with illegal immigrants and those of mixed status to be included in all relief packages, including the previous $2.2 trillion deal that already passed.
“It is absurd and cruel that a taxpaying, mixed status couple or family could be excluded from this relief. Over 140,000 Minnesotans live in mixed status families of some form,” Omar wrote in a statement Tuesday. “As currently written, many Minnesotans who are in this country legally or part of a mixed status family will not receive any stimulus money, even if one of them has a social security number but the other does not.”
“The Recovery Rebates Improvement Act will expand the eligibility requirement to ensure joint tax filers with one SSN will receive payment and provide more people with vital economic assistance. Comprehensive legislation is needed in the next package to ensure that all noncitizens, whether holding a SSN or not, can access these relief payments.”
Omar also said Tuesday she wrote a letter to the Treasury Department to “clarify eligibility requirements and request an update on the implementation of recovery rebates.”
There’s been quite the reaction on Twitter to this:
It's a real shame that at a time when taxpaying Americans are suffering, Democrats choose to expend their energy not on those Americans, but rather illegal aliens.
The Daily Caller has more info on the matter:
Democratic lawmakers in Congress are calling on the federal government to make illegal aliens eligible for federal relief amid the coronavirus pandemic, while local and state Democratic leaders have already made their coffers available for those living unlawfully in the country.
President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act on March 27, making $2.2 trillion in stimulus funds available for families and U.S. businesses hurting under the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The relief package not only provides up to $10 million in forgivable loans for each small business, but also $1,200 to single Americans who make $75,000 or less a year.
While the stimulus package was by a wide margin in both chambers of Congress and was considered essential in the fight against COVID-19, not everyone was completely satisfied with the bill.
“I was appalled to learn hardworking, taxpaying immigrants were left out of the $2 trillion CARES Act,” California Rep. Lou Correa said in a statement released on April 3. Correa, along with 49 other House Democrats, supports the Leave No Taxpayer Behind Act which, if passed into law, would allow illegal aliens to tap into the funds provided by the CARES Act.
“By casting out immigrants, we are placing some of our most vulnerable residents in grave danger. Every individual taxpayer, irrespective of citizenship status, needs government assistance now,” Correa continued.
Among the sponsors of the Leave No Taxpayer Behind Act are Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. All three are members of the so-called “squad” within the House Democratic caucus, a group of four first-term progressive women.
Newsy also posted a video on YouTube pleading for illegal aliens to be included in the stimulus funds. Check it out below:
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