Press Release

For Immediate Release, January 7, 2004
Contact: Gabriela Lemus, 202-833-6130

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is encouraged by President Bush’s reengagement in the immigration reform effort.  The President’s arguments for reforming our current outdated immigration laws were persuasive and on target. However, the President’s temporary worker program fails to include the essential component of earned legalization which must be included in any comprehensive immigration reform that would be acceptable to LULAC. 

“We are encouraged to see the White House recognizing that our current immigration laws need to be fixed and that undocumented immigrants that are working in the United States are making a valuable contribution to our economy and our country and should have their status legalized,” said LULAC National President Hector Flores. “The administration’s proposal, however, falls short of comprehensive immigration reform because it fails to provide an adequate avenue for these workers to become permanent legal residents.” 

It is critical that any immigration reform plan include a pathway to permanent legal residency, also known as earned legalization.  Without earned legalization the plan is only a guest worker program that does not fulfill the desire of many immigrants to become full citizens of the United States.  We must allow those immigrants who want to make a lifetime commitment to the United States to do so rather than require them to stay in a temporary worker status that only values their labor not their loyalty to our country. 

As a sign of good faith President Bush should announce his support for legislation that could make a real difference for immigrants.  Currently, there are two bills in Congress that LULAC supports: the DREAM Act and the AGJOBS bill, which call for the adjustment of status of millions of workers and their children.  Although neither of the bills is 100% perfect, both contain innovative provisions that address some of the needs of the business community by allowing undocumented immigrant workers and their families to come out of the shadows and fully participate in and contribute to American society.   

“The President can dispel the notion that today’s announcement is nothing more than a political move to gain the Hispanic vote by assisting in passing two solid bills that have ample bipartisan support, as well as demonstrate his commitment to the U.S.-Mexico bilateral discussions that are set to take place next week,” suggested Flores.  “The Hispanic community understands that the tragic events of 9/11 were a serious setback to the forward movement of these bilateral negotiations. However, we also understand that the need for comprehensive change in immigration policy did not disappear.  Our community is battered between the terrible deaths on the border that continue unabated and the growing anti-immigrant sentiment,” Flores continued. 

“The Latino community needs a comprehensive immigration reform plan that includes earned legalization.  We can both help undocumented workers earn legalization, and find ways to create legal channels for the future flow of immigrant workers necessary to growing the economy, while helping families stay together,” concluded Flores.

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 operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

# # #