Three Queens reps urge federal gov’t to include undocumented immigrants in relief package

U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez is among several Queens representatives supporting a bill that would allow individuals without social security numbers to apply for aid through the federal CARES Act. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

By Rachel Vick

Three Queens congressmembers have co-sponsored a bill to include undocumented immigrants and other people without social security numbers in federal relief packages.

U.S. Reps. Grace Meng, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velazquez are backing the “Leave No Taxpayer Behind Act,” which would amend the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act to allow applications who use Individual Tax Identification Numbers instead of social security numbers.

“Just like millions of American citizens, working immigrants, and mixed-status families, are falling on hard times due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Meng said. “They too have bills to pay and loved ones to support.”

“Many immigrants fortunate to still have a job are among the essential employees who are risking their health and safety by working on the frontlines during this outbreak,” Meng said.

The bill was introduced by Lou Correa from California on April 3, and fills gaps left by the exclusion of the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, which would have enabled payments to those filing with ITIN, in the final version of the CARES Act.