UnidosUS Condemns Proposal to Deny Child Tax Credit to U.S. Citizen Children in Mixed-Status Families

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WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, the House Ways and Means Committee introduced a budget and tax proposal that would exclude millions of U.S. citizens and legally prevent children from accessing the Child Tax Credit based solely on their parents’ immigration status. 

Laura MacCleery, senior director of policy at UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, issued the following statement in response: 

“The House Ways and Means Committee’s proposal in the budget and tax package to exclude U.S. citizen and immigrant children from being able to access the Child Tax Credit (CTC) is an obscene and unfair policy that will set back families in our communities and increase child and family poverty to levels not seen in decades. 

“Latino voters were clear in our recent poll that the cost of living continues to be a primary concern — one that impacts the millions who live in mixed-status households. This proposal would push millions of families back into poverty and economic hardship, and strip critical support from over 4.5 million U.S. citizens and legally-present children, simply because one or both of their parents use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to file taxes. This includes families where only one parent lacks a Social Security Number — a stunningly cruel and unprecedented standard that harms children and punishes mixed-status families. 

“We stand firmly against any legislation that would punish any child — including U.S. citizen children — for their family’s immigration circumstances as a violation of equal protection under law. 

“The Child Tax Credit has proven to be one of our nation’s most effective tools to reduce child poverty. These children are our future. Denying any child growing up in the U.S. the ability to thrive is morally indefensible and economically short-sighted. 

“We urge Congress to reject this cruel and divisive proposal, which would disproportionately impact Latino children. UnidosUS stands with all families who contribute to this country and calls for a CTC that uplifts every child, not one that turns its back on millions of children and families.” 

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