Community leaders respond to President Trump signing COVID-19 stimulus bill and government funding

BOSTON – Eva Millona, CEO and President of the Massachusetts Immigration & Refugee Advocacy Coalition, today issued the following statement in response to the passage of a new federal COVID-19 stimulus package.

“We’re pleased that we finally have stimulus relief that includes some mixed-status families and a retroactive fix for 3.5 million U.S. citizen spouses and children of non-citizen immigrants who were left out of the CARES Act. In Massachusetts, 174,000 individuals – including 30,000 children and 17,000 spouses – were deemed ineligible for relief under the CARES Act simply because they are a member of a mixed-status family. MIRA is especially grateful to Chairman Neal and the entire Massachusetts’ congressional delegation for their tireless advocacy in support of inclusive relief since the beginning of the pandemic.”

“However, we must be clear that it is unacceptable that this package took eight months to get done and it does not even come close to adequately addressing the severe needs of our communities. This is survival assistance, but not sufficient for a true recovery. The package also leaves out nearly 3 million U.S. citizen children whose parents filed taxes using ITIN numbers – essentially punishing these children for having non-citizen parents.”

“MIRA’s focus will now shift to advocating for the additional aid that our communities need and educating those who are now eligible to receive the $1,200 they were deprived of in April. We will continue to provide information for how to receive the tax rebate as it becomes available.”

Judd Deere, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary, issued the following statement through social media moments ago.

“President Trump has signed H.R. 133, an Act making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, providing coronavirus emergency response and relief, and for other purposes. The President is sending a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed. Sending back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill. The President is signing this bill to restore unemployment benefits, stop evictions, provide rental assistance, add money for PPP, return our airline workers back to work, add substantially more money for vaccine distribution, and much more.”

President Trump also made a statement through Deere.

“As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child. Much more money is coming. I will never give up my fight for the American people!”

The legislation will bring checks to Americans and additional unemployment relief.

For more on the story:

Senate reaches deal on over-900 billion dollar new covid-19 relief package with relief checks, unemployment