Washington, DC—The following is a statement from the National Employment Law Project, in response to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security announcement on new guidance for immigrant workers involved in labor disputes regarding renewals for temporary immigration protections:
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new guidance yesterday on how immigrant workers can renew their deferred action protections and work authorization so they can fully enforce their workplace rights. This latest DHS announcement is a result of sustained advocacy by immigrant workers and advocates, including NELP, demanding respect and dignity in the workplace for all workers.
This latest DHS announcement is a result of sustained advocacy by immigrant workers and advocates, including NELP, demanding respect and dignity in the workplace for all workers.
“As we have seen in the year since DHS first announced a process for initial deferred action applications for workers involved in labor disputes, these protections are a crucial tool to build worker power and combat employers’ pervasive use of workers’ immigration status as a tool for retaliation. An effective deferred action renewals process is key to truly bolstering the enforcement of labor laws and support immigrant workers in building power in the workplace.
“While NELP welcomes this renewals process announcement as a necessary step forward, we also recognize that without broader, just immigration reform, unscrupulous employers will continue to exploit and retaliate against workers based on their immigration status.
“We value DHS’s recognition of these protections’ importance and will continue to work alongside immigrant worker leaders and advocates to push DHS, so its deferred action renewals process fulfills its promise in practice for immigrant workers across the U.S.”
