As we gather with family and friends for the holiday season, too many Nebraska families and long-time community members continue to face impossible and unnecessary uncertainty and direct harm because of long outdated immigration laws – with ripple effects that impact families, workplaces, whole communities, all of us.
This year, we have seen unprecedented attacks on neighbors and communities with increased workplace raids, arbitrary executive orders, sweeping detentions, and a large-scale federal detainment camp in McCook.
This is not who we are. Nebraska is a state that welcomes our neighbors and values the contributions of local moms, dads, coworkers, neighbors and friends.
You’ve continued to make your voice heard and told our Nebraska members of Congress that we need policy change, NOT punishment of local people who are stuck in limbo despite best efforts to navigate long-outdated immigration laws. These voices come from agriculture, health care, aging care, hospitality, education, construction, faith, business, labor, and local community perspectives.
Before the end of the year, it is important that Nebraska’s members of Congress hear again from Nebraskans from across the state that what we need is updated and positive immigration laws that would support thriving Nebraska communities, economy, families, and future.
It has now been an unconscionable 40 years since Congress has updated our immigration laws in a meaningful way – leaving friends and coworkers who contribute important work, taxes, and volunteerism with deep uncertainty, while also destabilizing the systems and services we all rely on, from health care to food production. As our members of Congress think ahead about 2026, let’s remind them of the strong Nebraska support and urgency across sectors and across the state for forward-thinking immigration policies that actually support local communities.
