NEWS
New Alliance to Push Comprehensive Immigration Reform
- Alliance for Immigration Reform 2007 (in formation):
- · American Immigration Lawyers Association
- · Asian American Justice Center
- · Essential Worker Immigration Coalition
- · Tamar Jacoby, Manhattan Institute
- · National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
- · National Immigration Forum
- · National Restaurant Association
- · Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
- · UNITE/HERE
- · U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- · U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
- _________________________________
- Alliance for Immigration Reform 2007
- Media Contact: Douglas Rivlin
- (202)-383-5989
- Douglas G. Rivlin
- Director of Communication
- National Immigration Forum
- 50 F Street, NW, #300
- Washington, DC 20001 USA
- www.immigrationforum.org
- rivlin@immigrationforum.org
- If you would like to receive daily press clippings on immigration and related issues, sign up by sending me an e-mail at rivlin@immigrationforum.org
2006 Election Underscored Public Expects Solution
As the 110th Congress kicks off its first session with calls in both chambers to overhaul the immigration system, advocates for change have launched a new alliance to ensure that those promises become legislative reality.
The Alliance for Immigration Reform 2007 is a new working group of independent organizations that includes business representatives, labor leaders, immigrant advocates, free-market conservatives, and voices of faith. While differences exist between these groups in other policy areas, they have agreement on a workable architecture for immigration reform. Their common theme: that existing immigration law isn’t working for anyone and that Congress must act in this session, before the politics of 2008 take over, to produce and pass workable reform for one of the most pressing domestic policy problems we face.
“This is the year,” says Tamar Jacoby of the Manhattan Institute. “Neither our economy nor our security can wait. Workable reform will enhance national security by freeing up border agents to concentrate on smugglers and potential terrorists. Both parties understand this and both should stand resolute to achieve workable reform in 2007.”
Frank Sharry of the National Immigration Forum adds “Our Alliance wants what America wants: results, not rhetoric. The legislation has to be bipartisan to pass and comprehensive to work.”
Despite their varied interests, alliance participants are in accord on the essential elements of the reform that’s needed. “Any fix worth the name must provide sound enforcement and a reliable employment verification system that is combined with enough new temporary and permanent visas to meet the needs of America’s growing economy, a practical solution for qualified unauthorized workers already in the country, and pathways to earn eventual permanent residence” noted Bruce Josten of the US Chamber of Commerce.
Bishop Thomas Wenski concurs: “The solution must be practical and it must be humane. We must fix the system so that it serves both workers and families, ending the deaths in the desert, reuniting families, and ensuring that native and foreign born workers’ rights are protected in the workplace.”
Alliance participants also agree that the politics of the issue make it ripe for a solution this year. “Voters made one thing clear last November – they want a solution,” says Eliseo Medina of the Service Employees International Union. “Demagoguing the issue didn’t work. If anything, immigrant-bashing drove away voters. This Congress has the opportunity to be a do-something Congress and to step up and pass workable reform that’s worker and family friendly.”
Not only that, adds Cecilia Muńoz of the National Council of La Raza: “Latinos, foreign- and native-born, are going to be watching intently this year. Wherever we come from and whatever our status, for us, immigration is a threshold issue. We understand that U.S. policy must have teeth, but it must also be fair. We want to be treated with dignity and won’t stand to see the debate hijacked by xenophobes.”
The Immigration Reform Alliance 2007 is gearing up for a legislative battle that it expects to wage intensely in the months to come. Groups will continue their lobbying efforts and bring substantial resources to bear, both in Washington and beyond the Beltway.
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