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Press Release

LULAC Expresses Strong Concerns Regarding the Border Fence Amendment to the Hagel/Martinez Immigration Bill.

May 18, 2006

Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos
202-833-6130 ext. 14

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is deeply concerned about an amendment offered by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and passed by the Senate yesterday. The Sessions amendment would authorize 370 miles of additional fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. 

“LULAC is strongly opposed to the Sessions amendment because it will not enhance border security but it will more than likely result in increased deaths along the U.S. Mexico border and cost American taxpayers billions of dollars,” said LULAC National President Hector. M. Flores. “We are calling upon the Senate to revisit this amendment which is an affront to immigrant communities and will create a permanent scar in the relationship between the United States and our southern neighbors. Building a ‘Berlin’ style wall between ourselves and our neighbor is un-American, undemocratic, and unacceptable in a free society.” 

Each year more than 400 immigrants die attempting to cross into the United States from Mexico.  Building a wall between Mexico and the United States will force many migrants toward even more dangerous avenues resulting in increased loss of life along the border. “Any comprehensive immigration legislation passed by Congress should be designed to reduce border deaths not increase them,” stated LULAC National Executive Director Brent A. Wilkes. 

LULAC applauds Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) for offering an amendment to correct the Sen. John Cornyn (R-AZ) amendment passed yesterday which would have prevented immigrants from self-petitioning for a green card. This amendment would have created widespread abuse by employers and would have made the Hagel/Martinez legislation unacceptable to the immigrant community. 

LULAC has sent a letter to Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) asking them to revisit the Sessions amendment. “If Congress expects to have the support of the Latino community for their immigration bill, this provision needs to be struck from the Hagel/Martinez legislation,” stated Flores.

The League of the United Latin American Citizen (www.lulac.org) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. It advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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