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Press Release

LULAC Urges Congress to Support Bipartisan Immigration Plan Revamping Current System and Offering Pragmatic Solutions
The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act addresses immigration reform as law enforcement, human rights, economic and national security issue

July 22, 2005

Contact: Brenda Alvarez (202) 833-6130

Washington, DC—The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is urging Congress to support a bipartisan immigration reform bill that will revamp the current system and offer a multi-tiered conduit to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.  The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, sponsored by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), is a realistic approach that addresses immigration reform as a law enforcement, human rights, economic and national security issue.

The proposed law would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for temporary work permits that could last for six years.  They would have to clear criminal background checks, pass an English language test and pay a $2,000 fee to qualify.  In addition, at the end of the six years, they and their families could apply for permanent residency, and five years later for citizenship.   

“This bill is a pragmatic and responsible approach to immigration reform.  As the oldest civil rights organization in the country, we have examined numerous immigration reform policies, and the Kennedy-McCain bill is by far one of the best we have seen,” said LULAC National President Hector M. Flores.  

Flores added, “We can no longer continue to brush aside the millions of undocumented immigrants who live, work, raise families and establish roots in this country.  Instead of alienating them and forcing them to break laws, it’s time we embrace responsibility by recognizing their hard-earned value and incorporating them into our great country.” 

“The Kennedy-McCain bill is the type of legislation that demonstrates our leaders realize that the millions of immigrants living in this country are here for the long term,” said LULAC Director of Policy and Legislation Gabriela Lemus.  “Now we have the parameters within which we can have progressive talks about immigration reform.”  

LULAC’s push to see this bill pass before Congress follows the introduction of another bill sponsored by two Republican senators – Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Jon Kyl of Arizona.  The Cornyn–Kyl immigration bill calls for a hefty fine and an exodus of undocumented immigrants before becoming eligible for short-term guest worker visas. 

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 across the country at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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