|
Home > Press Room Archives > 2005 > Press Release
Press Release
LULAC Praises Introduction of
Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act
Bipartisan Bill Opens Door for Sensible
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
May 12, 2005
Washington, DC—
The League of United Latin American Citizens is
pleased with the introduction of bipartisan
comprehensive immigration reform legislation
that seeks to regularize the immigration status
of many undocumented workers and facilitate the
legal entry future workers, while strengthening
the security of the United States. LULAC looks
forward to examining the actual language of the
bill when it is becomes available. The
legislation was introduced in both the House and
Senate and authored by Senators John McCain
(R-AZ) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and by
Representatives Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Jim Kolbe
(R-AZ) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL).
“We recognize
that bringing together all the different
perspectives and needs of the country for this
particular legislation has been a challenging
task for our members of Congress and both the
Senate and the House should be given kudos for
taking on this difficult effort,” said Hector
Flores, LULAC National President. “We are
optimistic that we can move forward and be
successful in finding the best means to address
the needs of those seeking a pathway to legal
permanent residency and ultimately for
citizenship.”
LULAC’s
principles on immigration include measures for
strong enforcement of labor protections, the
right to organize, job portability, labor market
tests, family unity, and a pathway to legal
permanent residency and citizenship. The
recently introduced legislation is setting the
groundwork for fixing the broken immigration
system that is currently in place.
Brent Wilkes,
LULAC’s National Executive Director added, “This
bill is an important step in the right direction
for comprehensive immigration reform. We are
hopeful that with this legislation we can
restore order to the immigration process and
bring undocumented workers out of the shadows
while protecting the rights incoming immigrants
and workers already in the United States.”
The League of United Latin American Citizens
(LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil
rights organization in the United States. LULAC
advances the economic condition, educational
attainment, political influence, health, and
civil rights of Hispanic Americans through
community-based programs run by more than 700
LULAC councils nationwide.
### |
