OneAmerica, immigrant rights groups meet with Obama transition team in D.C.
Fair Immigrant Reform Movement (FIRM) representatives share their goals
WASHINGTON -
Representatives of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, including OneAmerica
Board President Mubarak Elamin, met with Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, co-chair of President-elect Barack Obama's
immigration policy working group to ask for support of  just and humane
immigration reform legislation, an immediate moratorium on raids and proactive
efforts to help immigrants integrate. This meeting preceded a larger gathering
between 2,500 grassroots community leaders, key Obama advisers and members of
Congress at "Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith &
Democracy" where immigration and other important issues were discussed.
The immigration
policy meeting took place last Thursday at Obama's transition headquarters. Obama
had pledged to tackle immigration if elected, and activists are encouraged that
one of his seven working groups is dealing with immigration.
Elamin said the
meeting provided an opportunity for OneAmerica to share with the transition
team the recent work of the organization. "I mentioned that One America is the largest immigrant
rights advocacy organization in Washington state. I also highlighted some of our key
accomplishments including the New Americans initiative of which our governor is
one of the three governors who has signed the New Americans executive order
which established the New Americans Council.
Earlier this year we launched the largest new citizen voter registration
and mobilization campaign program in the state's history when we registered
26,000 new citizens out of which 75 percent turned out to vote."
According
to attendees, the transition team representatives were receptive. "Mr. Cuellar did seem very interested in the
plight of families and communities affected by raids," said Gustavo Torres,
executive director of CASA de
Maryland. "We have a long road ahead of us in achieving immigration reform that works for all families and
supports our shared economic prosperity, but having the incoming
administration's attention is definitely a positive development."
The
eight FIRM representatives presented Cuellar with testimonials from families
torn apart by raids, and laid out details of an immigration policy proposal
that includes a pathway to earned citizenship for the 12 million undocumented
workers living in the shadows. They also asked for an immediate moratorium on
the raids and proactive measures to help immigrants integrate.
Last week's meeting
was just the beginning of immigrant rights groups working with Cuellar and the
transition team on a solution to fix our broken immigration system that will
benefit the immigrant community and our country.
"This is a new day in America, and there is a new hope in
our communities, but we're not relying on hope alone," said Marissa Graciosa,
immigration campaign coordinator for FIRM.
"We are going to work hard, and remain steadfast in our drive to create a
better America
for everyone."
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Photos of OneAmerica work Election Day 2008
Voters wear OneAmerica's "Immigrant Votes Count" buttons after voting. Photo by Jack Storms
A student tries to get out the vote wearing a OneAmerica button. Photo by Naomi Ishisaka
OneAmerica staffers Ann Ngo, left, and Hanne Ferber-Makhani help voters at polling places on Election Day. Photo by Naomi Ishisaka
One of nearly 100 signs posted by OneAmerica in immigrant neighborhoods on Election Day. Photo by Naomi Ishisaka
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For more information:
Naomi Ishisaka
Communications Director, OneAmerica
c: 206-853-3339
naomi@weareoneamerica.org |
About OneAmerica
OneAmerica (formerly Hate Free Zone) is committed to the vision of a unified nation with
justice for all. Our mission is to advance the fundamental principles
of democracy, justice, and human rights at the local, state and
national levels. We work with community partners and with partners
across the nation to protect and strengthen fundamental American rights
for all people-especially immigrants.
Please
join us and support our vision of America: a refuge from persecution,
the land of opportunity, the lifter of the lamp that lights the way to
freedom, liberty and justice for all.
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