The package to $2.2 trillion, which Congress approved for financial assistance during a pandemic coronavirus, has one major exception: the millions of immigrantswho have no legal status in the U.S. but work here and pay taxes.
48-year-old housekeeper Carmen Contreras lópez annually submits a tax return. Since the beginning of the outbreak she lost most of its customers, but will not see a penny of the money promised by most Americans in response to the pandemic.
«It is difficult, because the government we don’t exist,» said Contreras Lopez lived in the US for 30 years and gave birth to four children who are US citizens.
The government hopes to begin payments to millions of Americans in mid-April. Everyone who earns up to $75k a year and has a social security number, will receive $1200. The amount will be reduced for those who earn more.
According to the Institute on taxation and economic policy, about 4.3 million immigrants who do not have social security numbers, submit taxes, using the so-called taxpayer identification number.
Many say that they pay Federal taxes, because I hope that one day this will help them to obtain a permit for legal residence, and because they believe that it is right.
Answering the question of how immigrants without legal status will be able to survive in these conditions without any assistance, the President of Donald trump acknowledged the difficulty but said that many unemployed US citizens in need of assistance.
«It’s really a sad situation, and we’re working on it. I can’t give a quick answer, but I think about it,» said trump.
Democratic lawmakers last week introduced in the house and Senate a law that would allow immigrants to access aid funds.
«COVID-19 is not interested in immigration status, therefore, we do not have to wonder», — said the member of the house of representatives Raul M. Grijalva, Democrat from Arizona.
Luis Jimenez, a 35-year-old Mexican, caring for calves in the state of new York, near Canada, said that the government has forgotten about them, although their work is vital for the nutrition of Americans.
«We are very important to the economy and in order to feed the country, but we don’t get any help or support,» said the father of three children who has lived in the United States without legal status for 16 years.According to him, he earns about $38 thousand a year and pays taxes of about $6 thousand per year since 2005.
«Every day we go to work and at risk. On the farm there is practically no protection against coronavirus,» added Jimenez.
