Members of House Democrats called on congressional leaders on Friday to ensure that the next coronavirus relief bill would include stimulus checks for taxpaying undocumented immigrants.

Millions of them were excluded from the first round of COVID-19 economic relief package.

The 34 House members said it was "unfortunate" that the $2 trillion stimulus plan signed into law in March excluded Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers from receiving the $1, 200 stimulus checks released on the first round.

ITNs are mainly used by undocumented immigrants who file taxes and said that it is unconscionable to exclude them of aid, especially since many of them are essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Making these funds available to those with ITIN numbers is long overdue, and I urge congressional leaders to do everything possible to ensure that immigrants, many of whom have been essential workers during the coronavirus outbreak, are not excluded again," Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), who spearheaded the letter, was quoted in a report.

Meng said that they too have been hit hard by the crisis, adding that they also deserve the relief package just like millions of citizens who received it.

The representative said that we must not turn our backs on them.

Other New York representatives who signed the letter calling for the inclusion of undocumented immigrants are Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nydia Velazquez, Jerry Nadler, Jose Serrano and Yvette Clarke.

The letter was addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)

A second round of $1,200 stimulus check is included in the few provisions that the parties have agreed to include in the aid package.

Pelosi and Schumer have been pushing the ITIN demand in the talks, but Republicans are not fond of the idea, as they were strongly opposed to the proposition the last time around, according to a report.

Around 200k NY Taxpayers Was Not Included

New York Daily News in April said that around 197,000 New Yorkers who use ITIN were not included in the first round of stimulus checks due to a legislation made by the Republicans.

The economic stimulus bill worth $2.2 trillion was signed into law containing GOP-made language that made people who use ITINs disqualified for the $1,200 stimulus checks that the Treasury Department issued,

ITINs are mostly undocumented immigrants who cannot get Social Security number but still pay taxes.

Michael Zona, a spokesman for Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), said that the ITN restriction was made after the rules for cash assistance done in the 2008 financial crisis stimulus package.

"[The restriction] prevents illegal immigrants from qualifying for a U.S. taxpayer-funded program and helps reduce fraud and abuse," Zona was quoted in a report.

Aside from undocumented immigrants, ITINS are also used by some U.S. visa holders, including family members of permanent residents, and foreign nationals who generate their income in the U.S.

ITIN users in New York were not able to work during Gov. Andrew Cuomo's stay-at home order.

Check these out:

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IRS to Resolve Stimulus Check Errors for Qualified Recipients