Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 signed into law. President Trump requested only $1.25 billion, but Congress allocated $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agency response. CHIRLA took no position.

• $3.1 billion for Health and Social Services to develop and purchase vaccines and medical supplies
• Grants created for state, local, and tribal public health agencies and organizations
• $100 million for community health centers
• $950 million for state and local preparedness grants

The federal government declares national emergency and takes the following steps: 

• Provides $50 billion to states 
• Gives Secretary of Health and Human Services authority to waive requirements for Medicare, Medicaid, and state children’s health insurance
• Waives interest payments on student loans

Families First Coronavirus Response Act allocates $3.47 billion to assist individuals affected by the COVID-19. CHIRLA supports this effort.

• Establishes federally funded paid sick leave 
• Requires employers to give workers sick leave
• Expands unemployment benefits 
• Increases funding and access to Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
• Gives employers and the self-employed tax credits to cover paid sick days

Senate Republicans introduce the CARES Act, a $1.6 trillion COVID-19 relief package. CHIRLA opposed it.

• Bailed out industries affected by COVID-19
• No protections for immigrants workers and families were included

House Democrats released Take Responsibility for Workers and Family Act, A $2.5 trillion relief package. CHIRLA supports this effort. 

• Ensures that COVID-19 testing and treatment is available and free for anyone who needs it
• Provides more economic protections for workers  
• Increases unemployment benefits
• Provides $200 billion to states and $15 billion to local governments to mitigate budget deficits

The Cares Act is signed into law.

• Mitigates public health and economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic
• Provides more access to testing and treatment for the uninsured
• Provides cash payments to families
• Provides enhanced unemployment security for workers
• Immigrants are not included. With more than 50 million immigrants, 12 million of whom are undocumented, this exclusion hurts tens of millions of families.

The addressing extension of employment autorization and immigrants in detention centers during COVID-19.

• Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) urges the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to utilize its discretionary powers to automatically extend employment authorization for all immigrants whose employment authorization documents (EADs) are about to expire.
• The FIRST Act was introduced by Senator Booker (NJ) and Congresswoman Jayapal (WA) to release the majority of immigrants in civil detention and limit immigration enforcement during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Trump administration prohibits undocumented college students from receiving emergency federal cash assistance for expenses like food, child care and housing. The CARES Act provided $6 billion to higher education institutions The Education Department officials in new guidance directed colleges that only U.S. citizens and some legal permanent residents. Excluding, hundreds of thousands of recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has provided work authorization and deportation protections for undocumented immigrant youth.

President Trump issued a proclamation suspending  the entry of immigrants into the U.S. for 60 days if: 

• They are outside the U.S. as of the effective date of the Presidential Proclamation [April 23, 2020];
• Do not have a valid immigrant visa on the effective date; and
• Do not have an official travel document other than a visa [i.e. transportation letter, boarding foil, or advance parole document] that is valid on the effective date of the Presidential Proclamation or issued on any date thereafter that permits travel to the U.S. to seek entry or admission. 

Latest COVID-19 rescue package, Supreme Court action and USCIS announcement.

• The President signed the fourth COVID 19 rescue package
• The Supreme Court refuses to halt Trump’s wealth rule despite fear from immigrant families to seek COVID19 treatment and aid.
• U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces closure of all field offices suspending all in-person services at its field offices until June 4, 2020.