Pa. Latino caucus condemns remittance tax in 'Big Beautiful Bill'

Last Thursday, the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus held a news conference urging Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators and Representatives to oppose a federal tax on remittance and the reconciliation bill.

Following the news conference, state representatives, advocates, and community leaders released the following announcements on behalf of immigrant communities across the Commonwealth:

“This isn’t just an attack on immigrants. This is an attack on Pennsylvania’s working families, on American families. This is not just bad policy. It is morally wrong, economically reckless, and deeply out of step with the values we claim to hold in this country.” – State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, chair, Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus

“Small businesses are part of this system where folks come in with their paycheck and send it home to their families for support. This is something new Americans have been doing for generations. What this bill is doing is placing an extra tax on working people. It is important to urge our federal representatives to reject the federal remittance tax so that immigrants can continue doing the right thing and being rewarded justly, not punished.”  – State Rep. Joe Hohenstien

"Federal Republican lawmakers continue to attack the weakest parts of our communities on every level of public policy. It’s time for Pennsylvanians from all walks of life to stand up for fellow neighbors." – State Rep. Danilo Burgos

“Beyond the financial and regulatory implications, a tax on remittances is a direct attack on the American Dream. It makes it harder for working families — especially immigrants — to support loved ones, build futures, and contribute to global and local economies. Over 8% of Pennsylvania’s population is foreign-born, and remittances are a crucial part of how many immigrant families maintain cross-border connections and economic stability.” –  Laura Beltran Figueroa, policy and research director, Pennsylvania Policy Center 

“This bill is a blueprint for punishment — taxing immigrant families, cutting off food and health care, and expanding the same enforcement system that’s already disappeared our neighbors. It sends the message that any noncitizen doesn’t belong here. Senators Fetterman and McCormick must vote no — Pennsylvania deserves better.” – Julio Rodriguez, Pennsylvania Immigration Citizenship Coalition 

“The Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation must vote NO on the current budget reconciliation proposal. This legislation is not immigration policy — it is tyranny masquerading as public safety. Disguised as fiscal reform, it wages an all-out assault on working families, immigrant communities, and the very principles of justice and compassion our nation claims to uphold. Let us be clear: this is a war on the working class, and its consequences will be felt for generations to come. We urge every lawmaker who believes in human dignity, economic fairness, and the promise of liberty to reject this bill without hesitation. Our communities are watching — and history will remember where you stood.” – Patty Torres, Make the Road Pennsylvania 

“Our members are made up of working class, low wage and small business owners who are already taxed under income, taxing remittance is a second tax on those families. Our member send money to their families for things like medicine, rent, urgent food, basic family needs, and if they’re not able to do that, the urgency to bring those relatives to the United States become stronger, overburdening and already burdened, legal immigration system.” – Shamaine Daniels, Pennsylvania state director, CASA Inc.