Press Release: Statement by LULAC National President Rosa Rosales on White House Meeting on Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Over 100 national groups in attendance.

August 20, 2009

Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos
(202) 833-6130 ext. 16

"The White House held a meeting today with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, senior White House officials, Department of Homeland Security staff and approximately 100 national organizations. This was an important step because President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform in this Congress. The organizations stressed the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform now, requested a moratorium on raids and again called for a reunification of families.

We had an opportunity to communicate that while this is an important step it must be accompanied by other actions which include greater accountability and oversight of programs that have led to abuse and human rights violations in the Latino and immigrant communities. We also need concrete action to implement legislation that will truly restore dignity and balance to our broken immigration system.

It became clear to Secretary Napolitano that she needs to communicate more effectively the need for comprehensive reform to the general public.

Both the President and Secretary Napolitano acknowledged the importance of immigration to our country as well as the need to create a sustainable legal immigration system that is fair and just.

LULAC ranks immigration as a top priority as well as health care reform and urges that a concrete proposal be presented in Congress early this fall, and continued promotion of this urgent issue by the President and Secretary Napolitano.”

The League of United Latin American Citizens advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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