A bill introduced on Friday by California Sen. Alex Padilla called for a pathway to citizenship for essential undocumented workers.
5 million undocumented workers were on the frontlines during COVID-19, and the bill would grant them Permanent Legal Resident status.
A pathway to citizenship would also stimulate the economy through tax contributions and higher wages for Americans.
In order to aid essential workers during COVID-19, Democrats introduced a bill on Friday to provide undocumented immigrants who have worked on the frontlines during the pandemic an expedited pathway to citizenship.
Led by Sen. Alex Padilla of California, his first bill in Congress — the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act — targeted the 5 million workers without legal status who worked in healthcare, agriculture, public transit, and other frontline industries during the pandemic.