FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Latinos Progresando Welcomes Important First Step in Reform with "Gang of 8" Bill
April 17, 2013
Chicago, IL--Today, US Senators-known as the "Gang of 8"-introduced a bill that, if passed, would represent the largest-scale change to immigration law in 25 years.
The bill includes a roadmap to citizenship for immigrants who have been in the country without authorization since December 31, 2011 and proposes to reduce visa backlogs that have caused the painful separation of families and created barriers to filling gaps in the American workforce for too many years.
The months of negotiation have led to some compromises, but Latinos Progresando will continue to work with others to advocate for the type of change our community needs, and push to pass legislation that improves the opportunities available to immigrant families, and contributes to the future prosperity of the United States.
The introduction of this bill marks just the beginning of a critical debate about how best to repair our broken immigration system.
"We are looking for a piece of legislation that is not just politically viable," said Luis Gutierrez, executive director of Latinos Progresando, "but one that meets the needs of a 21st century economy, and at the same time renews the American commitment to the dignity and capacity of people living and working within our borders and the indelible right to humane and equal treatment under the law."
"We are looking for a set of policies that are sensible and build on the assets represented by the 11 million people already contributing to American society as parents, as students, and as drivers of the US economy."
Read the proposed Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act here.
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To reach individuals for comment, please contact Adrienne Lange at [email protected] or (773) 301-8670.
Latinos Progresando runs the largest Latino-led family-based immigration legal services program in the State of Illinois, accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals. In addition to legal services, Latinos Progresando founded and leads a 15-organization collaborative called the Marshall Square Resource Network on Chicago's south west side, and provides artistic and cultural opportunities, and youth leadership development programming.