Orlando Congressman Maxwell Frost announced a new bill, the Work Permit Reform Act, to help migrants and improve and streamline renewing work permits.
U.S. Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost recently joined local community leaders and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders to announce the new bill, which they said is legislation that would improve and streamline the process of renewing work permits for migrants.
The Central Florida Democrat said the legislation will help migrants stay on the job and support their families while contributing to their communities and paying taxes.
Rep. Frost‘s bill comes as Florida, which leads the country in TPS holders with nearly 300,000 recipients living in the Sunshine State, is home to more than a third of the total number of TPS holders in the nation.
Right now, TPS holders, migrants who have fled unsafe conditions in their home countries and are legally and temporarily residing in the U.S., must separately apply for an Employment Authorization Document or a work permit to be able to work, earn a living, and pay taxes. Much like TPS, work permits are temporary and must be renewed after a certain period.
For migrants, the disconnected processes of securing TPS and a work permit can cause stress and panic for TPS holders waiting to hear if their temporary legal status will be extended or redesignated. They could lose their jobs, income, and more when permit renewals are stalled due to the ambiguous future of a TPS extension or chronically slow processing times.
The Orlando progressive Democrat said that the Work Permit Reform Act to help migrants is the much-needed relief that TPS holders have been longing for. It will automatically extend the validity of work permits for those already eligible to work in the U.S. when their TPS is extended, eliminating the stress and uncertainty of permit renewals.
“The nearly 300,000 folks living in Florida and the thousands living here in Orlando aren’t just numbers and figures. They’re human beings. They’re parents, siblings, partners, children – all suffering because of the delays and red tape that constantly keeps them in the gray on their work status,” said Democratic Congressman Maxwell Frost. “We need Work Permit Reform now to help offer stability and peace of mind to thousands of families, workers, and employees living in a constant, unnecessary panic over their legal and working status in our country. These folks are here legally; they want to get to work, pay their fair share of taxes, and contribute to our society. We cannot stand in the way of that.”
