The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the American economy into deep waters, forcing hundreds of businesses to close and many employees laid off. One of the groups that suffered greatly during the crisis is the vast Latin community. 

The U.S. government acknowledge that many within the undocumented community make up a big part of the 'essential' workforce. However, it has denied helping the undocumented migrants directly.

Many within the Latin community were excluded in the government's recent stimulus bill. The financial relief is not accessible to immigrants without social security numbers. U.S. citizens with at least one undocumented family members were also denied access to the stimulus package.

According to a report released by the Center for Migration Studies of New York, there are over 19 million immigrant laborers employed in 'critical infrastructure' in the country.

All findings were based on data from the 2018 Census Bureau. The report also highlighted the role undocumented employees play in "keeping America safe, healthy, and fed."

mmigrants make up 31 percent of the country's farmworkers and agricultural employees. They make up 26 percent of workers in the food and beverage industry. Twenty-six percent of workers in grocery wholesalers, and 17 percent of those employed in retail groceries are also undocumented immigrants. 

In New York, undocumented migrants make up one-third of their health care sector workers. This includes home health care workers, aides, workers in medical equipment manufacturing and employees in pharmaceuticals manufacturing. Many are also employed as janitors and building cleaners.   

A recent Washington Post-Ipsos poll, showed members of the Hispanic community are almost twice as likely as whites to have been let go or furloughed amid the coronavirus lockdown. Unemployment among Hispanics surged to 18.9 percent. 

Hispanics also reported receiving unemployment benefits that were 10 percent less than their white counterparts and 5 percent less than African Americans. However, only 47 percent of all Latin workers were given the federal stimulus-a stark difference to the 67 percent of whites.   

The coronavirus pandemic has been cruel to the many undocumented people living in the United States. Many were deported, carrying the virus with them. They were sent back to countries that did not have adequate resources to deal with the virus. 

Advocates are now calling for the government officials to include the immigrants in future relief packages as the Congress weighs another federal stimulus bill. 

The New York Immigration Coalition launched an ad on Monday where they urged lawmakers to take action and give aid to undocumented residents who have been excluded from previous relief packages. 

The group believes the immigrants who are "risking their lives to pick, cook, and deliver food and clean our hospitals and more" should be given access to the upcoming coronavirus financial package. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to announce the parameters of the new bill in the coming days. The upcoming stimulus relief will reportedly be in the $3 trillion range. 

Previous stimulus packages, such as the CARES Act worth $2 trillion and included $1,200 cash payments to taxpayers, did not assist the immigrant communities. 

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