Calling on Senators Curtis and Lee to Reject Safety Net Cuts Targeting Immigrant Families
Across the country, immigrant families are being targeted by cruel and short-sighted budget proposals. This week, nonprofits across Utah, from Cache to Grand County, are raising their voices to say: enough is enough.
Today, 15 nonprofits from across the state sent a powerful letter to Senator Curtis and Senator Lee, urging them to reject harmful provisions in the Federal Budget Bill (H.R. 1) that would cut health care and social services for immigrant families. The letter highlights how these cuts would jeopardize the well-being of families who already contribute so much to our communities.
"We need a budget that reflects our Utah shared values of family, compassion, and community," the letter states.
This Federal Budget bill makes harmful changes to federal programs that millions of Americans rely on for maintaining good health, nutrition, economic stability, and personal safety. Many of these changes target immigrant families, and the harm they would cause is irreversible.
The bill especially harms victims of trafficking and domestic violence, refugees, asylum seekers, and others who fled war and persecution. They would be cut off from SNAP, Medicare, ACA tax credits, and federal student aid. This doesn’t solve a border crisis; it creates a humanitarian one at home.
In Utah, immigrants make up 8.9% of our total population, which includes 21,300 immigrant children and 181,400 U.S.-born residents who live with at least one immigrant parent. These are our friends, our coworkers, our neighbors. Cutting them out of safety net programs doesn’t just hurt individual families; it undermines the strength and resilience of our entire state.
While budget reconciliation allows the Senate to pass legislation with a simple majority, early polling shows most voters oppose these extreme cuts. With such a narrow margin in the Senate, advocates are hopeful that lawmakers will listen to the voices of their constituents.
The message from Utah is clear: We won’t stay silent while our communities are under attack. Senators must choose compassion over cruelty and reject this dangerous budget.
The following individuals and organizations stand united in support of this initiative:
Alianza Venezolana Utah
Centro de la Familia de Utah
Comunidad Materna en Utah
Comunidades Unidas
The People's Health Clinic
Holy Cross Ministries of Utah
First Unitarian Church of SLC
THRIVE Center for Survivors of Torture
Elevate Utah
Neighborhood House
Parents for Children
Moab Valley Multicultural Center
Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition
Utahns Against Hunger
Voices for Utah Children
