September 17, 2009
For Immediate
Release
OneAmerica's Diverse Coalition Calls on Rep. Gutierrez to Take the Lead on Immigration Reform Legislation
On Citizenship Day, communities across the country call for real action on comprehensive immigration reform
WASHINGTON - Today, hundreds of immigrant leaders and representatives are calling upon Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) to lead a strategy in the coming weeks that will get specific comprehensive immigration reform legislation introduced and moving through the halls of Congress. With the overwhelming support of communities across the country, Rep. Gutierrez will be asked to make the commitment at an event in Washington organized by the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (a network of pro-immigrant advocacy groups) as part of their Citizenship Day celebration. OneAmerica members and staff are present at the event in D.C today.
Rep. Gutierrez played a pivotal role in the Familias Unidas interfaith tour earlier this year that introduced families separated from loved ones by our broken immigration system to his colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and House Democratic Leadership and helped build compassion and support for immigration reform.
"Our diverse coalition of business, labor, faith, law enforcement, and immigrant groups in Washington state is ready to support a bill that fixes our broken immigration system," said Pramila Jayapal Executive Director of OneAmerica, the largest immigrant advocacy organization in Washington State. "We want to support Rep. Gutierrez and the CHC in taking bold action to break through the years-long stalemate on Capitol Hill."
Jayapal said they expect the Gutierrez's effort to lead to a progressive immigration bill which they defined as having the following features:
a pathway to citizenship that keeps families together;
elimination of the family immigration backlogs that keep people waiting years and decades for legal entry;
a system to modernize the process by which visas are allocated so that they reflect actual economic needs;
protection of worker rights for immigrants and native-born workers;
restoration of basic due process rights and protection of basic rights and liberties;
enforcement that respects these rights and restores confidence in the immigration system; and effective and innovative immigrant integration programs.
"We need to get started, and started well, on ensuring fair and just comprehensive immigration reform. The American people are ready," Japayal said. "It will take leadership and a sense of urgency, and Rep. Gutierrez and the CHC had the courage to stand up and tell the stories of our separated families at a time when people weren't listening. Now we believe he will get things moving in Congress for an immigration reform bill, and we call on members of the Washington delegation to join him in making a comprehensive immigration bill a top priority."
While a great deal of attention has been on health care reform - and rightly so - the urgent need for immigration reform has not diminished. If anything, the acrimony, deception and scapegoating of immigrants in the health care debate has underscored the need for a comprehensive solution that resolves the immigration issue. Immigrants, faith leaders, businesses, labor unions, progressive groups, and a broad coalition across the political spectrum want solutions to our current immigration mess.
"We need smart, sensible, American solutions to the issues facing American communities, and that includes immigrants," Japayal said. "We take citizenship very seriously and want to help shape the direction of our nation."
In addition to advocating for comprehensive immigration reform, OneAmerica runs a successful program to help Wasington's legal permanent residents get citizenship and engage fully in the community. In partnership with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), OneAmerica provides services for those looking to pursue citizenship through the Washington New Americans program. The next citizenship day will be held October 24th in Bellingham, Centralia, Pasco, and Port Angeles.
 For more information visit these websites:
www.weareoneamerica.org
www.wanewamericas.org
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WATCH: David Ayala, OneAmerica Organizing Director, speaking on the importance of National Citizenship Day.
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About OneAmerica
OneAmerica, formerly Hate Free Zone, is a non-profit organization that advances the
fundamental principles of democracy and justice by building power within
immigrant communities.
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