This isn't just another set of salvos in the political battle over immigration that's raged in our country for decades. It's a very different debate -- because of who could be impacted, and what's at stake.
Even though Congress has cast its votes on the stimulus bill, the debate is far from over, and the impact of what's happened so far is only just coming to light. Here's a look at why this issue matters, and what could happen next.
The argument: 'Everyone has an immigrant neighbor'
Unauthorized workers make up about 5% of the US labor force -- around 7.6 million people, according to the latest estimates from the Pew Research Center.
Advocates argue the coronavirus crisis that's devastated global markets, overwhelmed hospitals and left millions without jobs is having an outsized impact on undocumented workers. Many had service-sector jobs that were decimated by the pandemic. Those who remain employed largely don't have the option of working from home, and are risking their safety to keep supply chains going.
"It's undocumented workers that are still in the fields, still in the factories, still the janitors in the buildings, still looking for work as day laborers," says S.G. Sarmiento, campaign director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
At first glance, you wouldn't necessarily expect this group to be included in the stimulus deal. After all, they generally aren't eligible for government benefits. And these days it's rare to see leaders in Washington rolling out the welcome mat for immigrants.
But because of the threat the novel coronavirus poses, advocates argue this shouldn't be treated as business as usual. In a public health crisis, they say, if someone feels like they can't miss work or can't afford medical care, that impacts the entire community.
"From a public health perspective, you cannot have an effective national response to a pandemic that excludes enormous segments of the population. That's both illogical and immoral," Sarmiento says. Read more at CNN