Change takes courage Mr. President!

Today the change takes courage campaign is taking action across the nation urging the Obama administration to use its power and take action. We urge you to join us in this campaign and sign the Petition!

Deportations under President Obama have reached record levels. It’s a moral outrage that families are being separated, young people are being robbed of their future and public safety is being threatened by a system the president knows is broken. This must stop.

Too many families have been broken up thus far. It's time to change, time to show courage:

The Change Takes Courage Campaign is urging President Obama to keep families together by:

1. Keeping families together.

• End the deportations of parents of U.S. citizen children. Separating parents from children is a morally reprehensible act. It’s violation of America’s core values.  Consider the plight of Raul Cardenas of Denver who has been married to a U.S. citizen for more than 8 years and has a young daughter who is also a citizen and now faces deportation.
• End the deportations of military veterans. Our nation must not turn on the very people who serve it and help preserve it. That is exactly what our broken immigration system is doing. Consider Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, who served the Army National Guard and sustained injuries that left him in a wheelchair and now faces deportation.
• End the deportations of DREAM-eligible young people.   In his 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama said: “Let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses and further enrich this nation.” He was right, and he could end the practice right now with a stroke of his pen. Here are two students to whom he should be true to his word: Jackie and Jaime, high school seniors in Maryland, have been fighting to gain in-state tuition that will allow them to continue their education.
• End the deportations of immigrants who have families, jobs and deep roots in America and are contributing to their communities.  Our economy and our communities are made stronger by immigrants and immigration. We need look no further than the story of Mauricio Bautista who has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years, works at a bilingual school and is beloved by his community.
• Provide protection for all immigrants who are vulnerable to deportation simply because their paperwork is currently in process, and they are trapped in a bureaucratic backlog. It’s intolerable that our broken system is punishing people who have legitimate and legal claims to be in this country. For example, Saad Nabeel was deported unfairly to Bangladesh last year but should have been allowed to stay to give time for his case to run it course.

2. Discontinue ICE programs that undermine the public safety of all communities

Making local police the agents of the Federal government contributes to civil rights violations, terror in communities and makes our neighborhoods less safe.

• ICE should immediately clarify that states and municipalities are indeed allowed to opt out of Secure Communities.
• It is clear that programs such as 287g, Secure Communities and the Criminal Alien program increase the likelihood of civil rights violation. The aggressive promotion of these programs should end immediately.
• Where agreements already exist, ICE should defund/reduce funding.
• Secure Communities should only be used for its intended purpose, to remove only those convicted of Level 1 offenses.
• The Justice Department should immediately repudiate the memo from 2003 that purported to recognize the inherent authority of local and state law enforcement to enforce immigration law.

3. Protect all our workers

We must recognize the importance of those who live and work in our midst. No economic recovery can be achieved by our nation without respect for worker rights as a key element.

• Moratorium on I-9 audits by ICE and SSA no-match letters
• Protect workers’ rights to organize
• Prevent unscrupulous employers from using any ICE and other federal resources to break up unions.
• End use of E-Verify

Gov. Patrick urges MA Senators to make the youths' DREAM a reality.

The following is an excerpt from the State House News Service:

STATE CAPITOL BRIEFS – LUNCH EDITION – WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1, 2010
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE


PATRICK LOBBIES BROWN, KERRY ON DREAM ACT

Gov. Deval Patrick, a supporter of in-state higher education tuition rates for eligible undocumented immigrants, has asked Sens. Scott Brown and John Kerry to support the DREAM Act, saying in a letter that he anticipated Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring it up for a vote this week. In a Nov. 24 letter to Brown and Kerry, Patrick said the act would establish a pathway for immigrant students to attain permanent residency if they came to the United States as children, are long-term residents, have good moral character, and attend an institution of higher learning or serve in the military for at least two years. "We have always been and will continue to be a nation that depends and thrives on the contributions of immigrants and refugees," Patrick wrote. "Our nation and our economy have been at their best when we have welcomed the ideas, work and commitment of our immigrants." Patrick said the DREAM Act would also authorize states to determine for themselves "whether educational benefits would be made available equally to all of the state's residents." Patrick wrote, "I believe that all immigrant young men and woman, who attend our high schools, earn their way into college, and commit to addressing their immigration status, should be afforded the same access to higher education as any other resident." On Nov. 16, Patrick told an audience gathered by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition at Boston's Tremont Temple that he would implement all 131 recommendations in a year-old administration report on issues facing immigrants. The report includes controversial plans to provide in-state tuition rates and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. House Minority Leader Brad Jones said in-state tuition plans had failed before and would again, calling it a "ridiculous idea" and "a slap in the face to all Massachusetts taxpayers who expect state government to be focusing on stimulating the economy and putting people back to work."

All credit and rights belonging to:

State House News Service - State Capitol Briefs

Immigrant Voters Speak Loud and Clear

The results from the pivotal 2010 midterm elections strongly suggests that immigrant voters in Massachusetts and across the nation raised their voices decisively against political stances that threaten the rights and well-being of the foreign-born.

In Massachusetts, Boston Globe figures suggest that immigrant voters rewarded Governor Deval Patrick's strong policies on immigrant integration — from his defense of health insurance for legal immigrants, to his commissioning of the New Americans Agenda — by bolstering his strong victory in the ten most populous cities in the state, which came out also have the highest immigrant residency.

Anti-immigrant rhetoric may have also played a part in Republican State Representative Jeff Perry's loss to Democrat William Keating in the race to become Congressman in the 10th District. Less than a year ago, the 10th District swung a decisive 20 points ahead in favor of Republican Scott Brown in the U.S. Senate race. But unlike Brown, whose position on immigration was very low-key before his statewide election, Representative Perry has vociferously sponsored anti-immigrant legislation in the State House year after year, going so far this political season as to call for the repeal of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees citizenship for everyone born on U.S. soil. As WBUR reports, Perry's electoral hopes were finally crushed last night when results arrived from Quincy, which boasts a foreign-born population of over 25 percent, the heaviest in the district. Perry lost Quincy by over 60 percent of the vote.

Similar effects can be seen across the nation, such as in the bitterly fought Nevada Senate race. Despite early prognostications, the seat was recaptured handily by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has worked hard for comprehensive immigration reform legislation. His opponent, Sharon Angle, ran anti-immigrant ads that raised protests from statewide Latino organizations, and she was perceived to be the prime beneficiary of a notorious media campaign to suppress the Latino vote. As Edward Schumacher-Matos writes in the Washington Post, "The Latino vote came out --- 12 percent of the vote -- and Reid received an extraordinary 90 percent of it, according to estimates by Latino Decisions, the only poll that specifically tracked Latinos. Reid would have lost handily to Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle without that lopsided support."

Similar results can be seen across the nation, from the California Governor's race — which may have hinged on the losing candidate's firing of her undocumented-immigrant maid — to state house races in Maryland — where Latino candidates made impressive inroads.

Immigrant candidates also made history from California, to South Carolina, to Massachusetts. Two sons of Chinese immigrants, Donald Wong (R-Saugus) and Tackey Chan (D-Quincy) became the first Asian-Americans elected to the MA House of Representatives.

Immigrant advocates including MIRA celebrated these triumphs and also extended congratulations to ALL newly elected officials. They also recognize the challenges ahead in advancing pro-immigrant policies while defending immigrants from being political scapegoats while the nation continues to recover from the recession.

MIRA Bulletin September 18, 2009

MIRA Bulletin

Dear MIRA Members and Supporters,

Yesterday MIRA joined SEIU 615, the Dominican Development Center, the Human Rights Campaign, the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) and many other organizations at a press conference in front of Faneuil Hall to celebrate Citizenship Day and announce a citizenship clinic tomorrow at SEIU's offices in downtown Boston (see below for more details).

I know you understand the importance of obtaining citizenship at this historical juncture, and I hope you received word of this clinic from us or one of the 14 organizations with whom we've partnered on this drive, part of a nationwide effort spearheaded by NALEO. At this difficult economic time, when the 2007 increase in citizenship application fees has made the process harder than ever, it is understandable that citizenship applications in Massachusetts have fallen to a record low (see the Boston Globe story). And yet we are happy to say we have received a tremendous response from this initiative, with dozens of phone calls here, at Centro Latino, at SEIU 615, and at NALEO's citizenship program, "Ya Es Hora" (Now's the Time).

We are certain that this response reflects a feeling among immigrants and advocates that now is indeed the time; we can wait no longer for change. It's this feeling that has powered over two dozen similar drives across the country, and, as the letter reprinted below explains, it's also the feeling that has driven Congressman Luis Gutierrez to start the process of filing his own progressive bill for comprehensive immigration reform. We know we can count on you to help us in the fight to make this time an hour of victory. As always, you have my deepest thanks.

Sincerely,

Eva A. Millona
Executive Director

Federal Updates

Letter from Washington

Below is a portion of an e-mail received late today from Rich Stolz of ReformImmigrationFORAmerica.org :

We really shouldn't wait any longer to introduce a progressive, comprehensive immigration reform bill,' Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) told hundreds of immigrants and their allies at a Citizenship Day event in Washington, DC yesterday as he answered a call for leadership from immigration advocates. Representative Gutierrez accepted the challenge and announced his intention to introduce his own progressive comprehensive immigration reform bill, one that will unify the broader immigrant community, this fall.

A wide range of events took place in Washington, DC and across the nation this week around Citizenship Day, a chance for the nation to reflect on and appreciate the value of citizenship. A broad coalition of immigrant and allied groups gathered in DC under the banner of Unity in Movement. Throughout the rest of the month, Ya Es Hora and other groups will be holding citizenship workshops and other events, and on September 16, local leaders celebrated at hundreds of festivals across the nation by promoting the Campaign's cell phone action network (text justicia [Spanish] or justice [English] to 69866 to join).

This celebration and its call for leadership came the day after the Senate Finance Committee released its healthcare bill, which drew sharp criticism from immigration advocates. As Janet Murgia, head of NCLR said, 'Left unaddressed, the plan has the potential to drive up costs, leave people uncovered, and threaten public health.' On Wednesday night, President Obama attempted to address these concerns at the CHCI Annual Awards Gala. Although the President assured the audience of his commitment to coverage for legal immigrants, advocates remain concerned about how the details of the policy could impact both immigrants and citizens. The president also re-stated that his plan would not cover undocumented immigrants. The bill that is drawing everyone's ire is coming up for a vote in the Senate Finance Committee early next week.

This afternoon, Senior White House staff discussed immigration and health care issues with hundreds of immigration advocates on a conference call. National and local advocates used the opportunity to voice their concerns and to question the White House verification of status proposals in any health care bill, the impact of health reform proposals on access to health care for mixed status families, and other pressing concerns in immigrant communities."
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The Census Meets the Press

The Ethnic News Wire held an event for ethnic media on the U.S. Census on Thursday. The event featured a panel of Census staff, including Associate Director Marilia Matos, taking questions from ethnic media journalists about the census and media outreach plans. The panel noted that the media buys for the upcoming census ad campaign will be over 50% ethnic media, the highest ever percentage.

In addition the panel emphasized the security of the census, noting that all census employees take a lifetime oath of confidentiality, violations of which are punishable by fines and imprisonment. The staff also discussed language access, confirming that the census will be available in five languages with instructions available in 59 additional languages. The census media campaign will be launched in January and census forms will be mailed in March. For more information about the census efforts please contact Frank Soults at 617-350-5480 ext. 204, or fsoults@miracoalition.org.



MIRA Messages

Citizenship Clinic

Join MIRA and SEIU at upcoming citizenship drive in Boston. We will be helping eligible immigrants apply for citizenship. SEIU 615 and MIRA kicked-off the drives with a press conference yesterday, on National Citizenship Day. (See the story in the Portuguese and English newspaper O Jornal)

Citizenship Clinic: September 19, 10am-1pm. SEIU 615, 26 West Street, Boston MA. See here for more information.
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Boston Mayoral Forums 2009

Join MIRA and other Boston Residents at the Boston Mayoral and City Councilors at Large Forums. This is your chance to ask candidates your questions!

Forum 1
City Councilors At Large
Tuesday October 13, 2009
6:30-8 pm
UMass-Boston, Boston

Forum 2
Mayoral Candidates
Tuesday October 27, 2009
6:30-8 pm
Location TBA

Thanksgiving Luncheon

Come join us on Tuesday, November 17th for MIRA's annual Thanksgiving Luncheon in the Great Hall of the State House. This event brings together those who cherish their family's immigrant story to Celebrate the Immigrant Family. It is a moment to reflect on and thank immigrants for their sacrifices in order to realize their American Dream.

For sponsorship opportunities or additional information, please contact Kirsten Dees, Development Associate at 617.350.5480 x208 or email dees@miracoalition.org



State Updates

Details on New Health Care Plan to Cover 31,000 Immigrants

The Patrick administration announced plans in early September for the $40 million allocated to coverage for 31,000 immigrants under the "Aliens with Special Status" (AWSS) category in MassHealth who lost eligibility for Commonwealth Care as of September 1, 2009. Under the new plan, CeltiCare, a new managed care organization (MCO), will provide coverage to all 31,000 immigrants impacted by the cuts, beginning on October 1 in Greater Boston, November 1 in Northern and Southern Mass., and December 1 in Central and Western Mass. More details are available now about the plan, which offers significantly less comprehensive coverage than full Commonwealth Care. Among the differences are no dental, vision, hospice, or long-term care; increased co-pays; and serious questions about CeltiCare's provider networks in Boston and across the state. To stay updated on details of the plan as they become available, check MIRA's state health care website here. Those impacted by the cuts should have received letters last week. Click here for a list of the benefits and co-pays under the new plan. MIRA is committed to full restoration of Commonwealth Care coverage in next year's budget and believes strongly that the new plan is a temporary and imperfect solution. If you have any questions, please contact Toby Guevin at MIRA at 617-350-5480 x216 or tguevin@miracoalition.org.


Member to Member

March and Rally for Jobs

Across Massachusetts jobs are being cut and thousands of workers are being laid off. State and local governments are slashing critical public services and eliminating jobs--just when we should be expanding them.

One year after the federal government gave big business and the banks hundreds of billions of dollars for the bailout, corporations are not creating the jobs that were promised.

We need jobs and we want to work. On October 1, 2009, let's put the heat on corporations doing business in Massachusetts to provide the good jobs our communities need!

Join the fight against a jobless recovery and for an economy that works for everyone.
Thursday, October 1, 2009

4:00 PM Kickoff at the State House
4:30 PM March through downtown and the
Financial District
5:30 PM Rally at Federal Reserve Bank
(600 Atlantic Ave., Boston)

Call Jobs with Justice at (617) 524-8778 for bus info from Merrimack Valley, South Shore, Worcester and Springfield.

Motorcycle ride-ins to the rally are planned. For info call (617) 929-6000.

For more info, call Mass AFL-CIO (781) 324-8230, Jobs with Justice (617) 524-8778 or IBEW Local 2222 (617) 929-6000.
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Citizenship Preparation Classes

MIRA is happy to announce that Cleghorn Neighborhood Center is now offering Citizenship preparation classes. If you are in the Fitchburg area and would like to learn more please contact - Joana Dos Santos at 978-342-2069.
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Addressing Asthma in Boston

Breathe Easy At Home is a public-private health initiative from the Medical-Legal Partnership at Boston Medical Center in collaboration with Boston's Inspectional Service Department that seeks to address asthma in Boston by achieving the following:
• Improving communication with asthma clinicians, the Boston Public Health Commission, and the Inspectional Service Department Division of Housing Inspections.
• Utilizing housing code inspections to address asthma triggers in the home.
• Working together to deliver the services and resources needed to make Boston's housing stock healthier.
Partnerships with the Boston Public Health Commission, the Boston Urban Asthma Coalition, the Bowdoin Street Health Center, and the New England Asthma Regional Council provide the city's housing inspectors with additional resources to help Boston's asthmatic residents "breathe easier" at home.

Through a shared website doctors, nurses or other health professionals can refer potential housing code violations that may worsen the asthmatic's condition. Referring parties receive automatic case updates on inspections, and have on-line access to review their referrals. With the patient's consent the doctor electronically alerts Inspectional Services Department (ISD) from the convenience of their office. The request for inspection is received at ISD which then conducts an inspection to address code violations that are asthma triggers. Inspectors are trained to look for asthma triggers such as mold, infestations, drafty doors & windows, no heat, poor ventilation and unsanitary conditions. The property owner is notified of the violations and the inspector works with them to achieve compliance. The Breathe Easy Collaborative meets on a regular basis to review cases and assess if additional resources are needed.

Clinicians interested in joining the "Breathe Easy" referral network will be able to make referrals through Breathe Easy at Home. To register simply go to the following website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/isd/housing/bmc/default.asp
Tenants without a doctor's referral can contact the Boston Public Health Commission to be referred for a Breathe Easy housing inspection @ 617-534-5966 or asthma@bphc.org
If you experience any problems, or would like more information please call the Housing Division at 617-635-5322

Another Great NY Times Editorial; Police Chiefs Support Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

The New York Times was at it again today, elaborating on the relationship between comprehensive immigration reform and supporting worker's rights. One key point that is often forgotten in the debate over immigration, jobs, and wages is this: who holds the power. As the editorial points out:

“Workers don’t depress wages. Unscrupulous employers do,” said Terence O’Sullivan, president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America.

The weekend found this article on driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, an issue that has garnered a good deal of attention across Massachusetts over the past few weeks. Many anti-immigrants complain about the cost of providing non-existent benefits to undocumented immigrants; yet when an option is brought up that would save time and money and increase public safety, they aren't happy either.

Good News at the End of a Long Week

After a long week that included sharp cuts in funding to many essential programs and services across the state, including some to programs and services for immigrants and refugees, it is nice to see the potential of our advocacy efforts. For those of you who are not familiar with the story of the Ateaga family, it started here. Thanks to advocacy efforts by MIRA and others, this is the end of the story for now:

Tide Turning on Immigration Reform; Naturalization at an All-Time High

This morning's newspapers greeted immigrants and advocates with great news about comprehensive immigration reform. A week after President Obama put immigration reform back on the political map, The New York Times ran not one but two articles that highlight the importance of immigration reform to fixing our economy, and reaffirm the relationship between immigrant rights and worker's rights while uniting the struggle of working class people with the struggle of all immigrants to improve their lives and those of their families.

The AFL-CIO and Change to Win have both come out in support of comprehensive immigration reform.

“The labor movement will work together to make sure that the White House as well as Congress understand that we speak about immigration reform with one voice,” Mr. Sweeney said in a statement to The New York Times.

The Times' editorial board also put out a piece applauding the news of a united labor front on immigration reform and Obama's promise to begin the debate this year.

"We are also heartened that American labor is speaking with a united voice in hard times, rejecting the false claim that fixing the immigration system will somehow hurt American workers. Even in a bad economy — especially in a bad economy — getting undocumented immigrants on the right side of the law only makes sense."

Anti-immigrant folks from around the country will no doubt rally around the positive news on immigration and continue to shout their negative, anti-change messages for all to hear. But with the hope of a new administration that looks to welcome new Americans and shun divisions, immigrants and advocates are prepared to push for reform that upholds the American values of opportunity, family, and fairness.

"It will take courage to defend the wisdom and necessity of fixing the immigration system. It will take even more courage to engage in the serious fight to do so. It is what the country needs and what American voters elected Mr. Obama to do."

And, finally, if that wasn't good enough news, "Ya es Ora, Ciudadania!" celebrated a record number of naturalizations this year. More than 1 million immigrants naturalized last year, which represents an increase of 58 percent over the previous year. For anyone who has not seen a naturalization ceremony in person, it is an amazing experience to share with your fellow Americans. To read about the benefits of citizenship and how new voters are contributing, read this MIRA report.

News Round-up: Sannicandro on Why Driver's Licenses Make Sense; Mitt Romney Sees the Light on Immigration

Following up on our post supporting Rep. Richardson of Framingham, Rep. Sannicandro penned an op-ed in the MetroWest Daily News explaining his support of driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants. Why would he support such a thing? Two main reasons:

• It promotes public safety. Allowing the Registry of Motor Vehicles to ensure that all driver's have passed the appropriate tests (written, road, eye) and understand the rules of the road is essentail for public safety.
• It makes financial sense. Estimates suggest that the Commonwealth would generate an additional $30 million in revenue by passing the amendment filed by Rep. Sannicandro. Turning down $30 million in revenue during these challenging economic times is akin to reducing $30 million of funding for vital social programs in MA.

And, finally, in a sign that the apocalypse is nearby, Mitt Romney has come out in support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. It may not be for social, economic, civic, or humanitarian reasons (of course, it's political) but it is nice to see the person that former Rep. Tancredo, a staunch anti-immigrant, endorsed for president coming out on the right side of the issue.

Executive Director of National Immigration Forum Takes on Lou Dobbs

The current executive director of the National Immigration Forum (and former executive director of MIRA), Ali Noorani, took on Lou Dobbs and Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation last night:



What strikes the viewer most about the "debate" (which is a difficult thing to have when Lou Dobbs doesn't listen like a real journalist but tries to push his own nativist agenda and interrupt the speaker at critical points in their argument) is the figure they show about the percentage, by ethnicity, of recent naturalized citizens (at 7:10 of the video). There appears to be no point to showing this statistic during the course of the debate other than to highlight that Latino and Asian immigrants make up the bulk of newly naturalized citizens. There is a moment where Lou Dobbs seems to recognize that this figure contributes nothing to the debate (aside from confirming nativist's worst fears--that people of color represent the majority of immigrants) and tries to cover his tracks by inserting his usual "this isn't about race" comment. What is almost laughable about the inclusion of this statistic in the discussion is that, by definition, these naturalized citizens are not undocumented immigrants but were previously legal permanent residents. So, other than as a race-bating tactic, this snippet of information belongs nowhere in the debate of comprehensive immigration reform and whethere there should be a pathway to legal residency.

Also, I would like Robert Rector to tell this family and these detainees that we have a "de-facto amnesty" policy at the present time in the U.S.

Press Statement: NY Times Confirms Obama's Commitment to Immigration Reform in '09

Boston, MA - In a front page lead story today, The New York Times confirmed President Obama's intention to reform immigration this year. A senior administration official told the paper of the president's commitment to build "an orderly system," including finding a way to bring undocumented workers onto the path of legalization. "He intends to start the debate this year," said the official, Cecilia Muñoz, deputy assistant to the president and director of the White House's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

MIRA applauds the president and those who stand with him in Congress for taking this politically courageous step. President Obama's public commitment recognizes not only the urgency of reform for thousands of immigrant families, but also for millions of American workers and business owners imperiled by the current economic crisis.

The following is a statement from Eva A. Millona, Executive Director of the MIRA Coalition, about the Times story:

"One out of twenty working families in America is currently deprived of labor and wage protections. The Administration should be commended for recognizing that this broken, unjust system hurts every American worker. In Massachusetts, thousands of families currently live and labor in the shadows and are easy prey to exploitation. Creating sensible, permanent, and humane reform will not only bring these families into the light, it will also brighten everyone's economic prospects. Reform will give immigrants a better chance to increase their purchasing power; it will create a fair and level field for wages; and, ultimately, it will improve the state's tax base. The administration gets it, and we are ready to get behind the president and his supporters in Congress to mobilize working families, communities of faith, labor, and businesses to push for this vital reform."

Visual Depiction of "Get in Line" Argument Highlights Broken Immigration System

This visual from Reason Magazine sums up our immigration system. It also shows that anyone using the "Get in Line" argument knows little about the broken immigration policy of the U.S.

Pelosi Defends Remarks that Call for an End to Raids

Bravo!

Obama Announcess Support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

In a meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, President Obama vowed to push Comprehensive Immigration Reform in his first term, with a plan to pass CIR scheduled for release in early May. Immigrants rights groups and allies from across the country celebrated the news and called for quick action from the President and Congress. From Massachusetts to Colorado to the Nation's Capitol to the Blogosphere.

Press Statement: President Obama Reiterates Promise for Immigration Reform

Boston, MA – Earlier today, President Obama met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss the issue of immigration reform. During the meeting, President Obama reiterated his support for comprehensive immigration reform and announced that he will make a public statement in May that will lay out his plans for just and humane reform.

Below is a statement from Eva A. Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition:

“We are pleased that the President met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to reiterate his commitment to immigration reform and that he will be laying out his plan for such reform in early May. Creating a just and humane immigration system in this country is long overdue. For too long, families have been torn apart, workers have been forced to live in the shadows and the country has been suffering because of our broken system.

We need a comprehensive approach that gives the hard working men and women already here an earned path to citizenship, keeps families together and provides legal avenues for future workers to seek out opportunities here and join our struggle to strengthen our economy. Especially in this time of economic crisis, we need to work together to push for immigration reform. Legalization would bring more workers into the tax system and increase tax revenue. It would enable these workers to receive the protections all workers deserve, and give immigrants the opportunity to contribute more freely to our economy through purchasing power. A workable immigration reform would contribute significantly to the long-term economic growth and stability of our country.

America is a country founded on the values of inclusiveness, shared responsibility, shared sacrifice, and hard work. Our policies, including our immigration policy, must reflect our values. We look forward to working with the President to pursue just and humane immigration reform.”