Groups support path to citizenship; voice concerns over harsh measure that hurt 

families, communities and workers  

SAN FRANCISCO - With the unveiling of the Senate's comprehensive immigration reform bill early Wednesday, organizations with the San Francisco Bay Coalition for Immigrant Justice held a news conference in reaction to the bill and announced plans for a major immigrant rights march in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 1st.  The groups commended the inclusion of a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented in the legislation as a positive step, while voicing serious concerns about unfair roadblocks in the road to citizenship and about harsh measures that would separate families, hurt workers and perpetuate abusive conditions at the border.

"Today's proposal is a starting point for an important national conversation about immigration. Our immigration policies must reflect our values: equality, family unity, and basic civil rights for all. California has more at stake than any other state, and over the coming months, we will push for improvements in this legislation so that it truly creates a workable and fair immigration process. We invite all community members to add their voices to this effort by joining a march and rally on Wednesday, May 1," said Charles Sanchez, members of Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights through Education (ASPIRE).

"We applaud the inclusion of a path to citizenship in the bipartisan legislation for millions of undocumented people currently living as second class citizens.  However, there are problems with the bill, which creates long waiting periods to adjust, excessive fines and unclear language and employment requirements," remarked Francisco Ugarte, senior immigration attorney at Dolores Street Community Services.

Groups also expressed concerns about proposed changes to the family-based immigration system and worker rights issues. "Family has been the cornerstone of our immigration system," said Anoop Prasad, immigrant rights attorney at the Asian Law Caucus.  "The elimination of visas for entire groups of family members is an attack on our families and communities."  

"Mandatory E-Verify will have a troubling impact on immigrant workers," stated Olga Miranda, President of SEIU - Local 87.  "Forcing employers to check allworkers' immigration status against flawed databases like 'E-Verify' reduces the power of all workers. And it would threaten the jobs and privacy of many citizens and work-authorized immigrants."  

Key improvements that many community organizations are hoping California representatives can champion in the bill include:

• More clear and direct path to citizenship for all: The long and onerous path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented should be made more inclusive by eliminating these roadblocks 1); residence in the U.S. since 12/31/2011 and continuous presence since that time; 2) at least a decade long wait for a green card; 3) $2000 penalty and filing fees to be determined; 4) unclear language and civics requirements; 5) arduous employment requirements; 5) ineligibility for even minor convictions and despite rehabilitation; 6) a short application period.
• Family unity. To uphold the cherished principle of family unity, the bill should preserve visa petition for siblings and most married adult children of U.S. citizens The bill should also
• protect same-sex couples from being separated.
• Halting unjust detentions and deportations. The bill contains no fixes to the devastating impact of the 1996 immigration laws and increased enforcement, which has resulted in record-breaking numbers of deportations and torn apart families and communities.
• Protecting worker Rights: Advocates are concerned that the bill mandates the use of E-Verify, an electronic employment verification system, which builds upon a flawed employer sanctions framework and pushes workers into an underground economy where workplace abuses are prevalent.
• More efficient and humane border: The bill includes unnecessary and costly increased border militarization that must occur before the 11 million undocumented can move down the path to citizenship.  Measures include 6.5 billion dollars over 10 years to seal the border, a 90% apprehension rate in "high risk" sectors of the border and the mandatory use of E-Verify. 

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