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Letter to the Congress
January 8, 2007
Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
United States Congress
Washington, D.C.
Dear Leaders Reid and Pelosi:
We
would like to extend our most heartfelt
congratulations on your important victories.
It’s reassuring to know that America’s working
families now have an even stronger voice in
Congress. As you prepare to lead the 110th
Congress of the United States of America, we
urge you to make immigration reform one of your
top priorities during the first 100 days of the
new Congress.
Last
year, Congress demonstrated its willingness to
cooperate on a bipartisan immigration compromise
that was broad, comprehensive and addressed many
of the current flaws of our immigration system,
including a path to earned legalization for the
12 million undocumented immigrants that reside
in the country.
The plan, introduced by Senators McCain and
Kennedy and Representatives Gutierrez, Kolbe and
Flake was endorsed by LULAC members across the
country and Puerto Rico and Hispanic Federation
member agencies nationwide, as well as numerous
leading national organizations. Unfortunately,
that early spirit of Congressional cooperation
was later besieged by a ferocious anti-immigrant
fervor that culminated in a proposed
700-mile-long fence along the U.S. – Mexico
border. Additionally, the recent raids at
several meatpacking plants across the country
and the high-profile manner in which they were
carried out have stirred further emotion and
fear in our communities.
The 110th Congress can find an
immigration solution that keeps America’s border
safe, while dealing fairly with undocumented
workers. Of course, the radical anti-immigrant
forces will say that our objective is to open
borders – this is simply false. As proud and
patriotic Americans, we value national security
and we stand for strong borders that protect our
families, our homes and our way of life. We
also believe that as part of their earned
legalization process, undocumented immigrants
should learn English to be successful and
productive members of society; pay any back
taxes they may have accrued while undocumented;
and hold no criminal record in the U.S.
Undocumented immigrants should be subject to
these requirements just like any other American
or pay the consequences if they fail to do so.
We are not asking for special privileges or
hand-outs, just fair and humane treatment for
people who have contributed so much to America.
Immigrants have dedicated themselves to this
country through hard work and determination and
America has benefited accordingly. Immigrant
workers have historically fulfilled vital gaps
and shortages in the U.S. labor force, primarily
in low-wage and labor-intensive areas. They
also perform jobs that many Americans simply
won’t do. As such, they deserve an orderly
pathway to legalize their status in the U.S. so
they can emerge from society’s shadows and into
the light of day.
As the new Congressional leadership, you have a
unique opportunity to ensure that America
remains a beacon of hope for those that work
hard and are willing to be active partners in
the growth and prosperity of this great nation.
We have great hopes that under your leadership,
Congress will honor our country’s rich immigrant
legacy and recognize the vast contributions made
by Latinos to the pillars that keep our country
safe, strong and flourishing.
In light of this remarkable energy, passion and
commitment, we expect that you will fully
address the key issues affecting the Hispanic
community during the first 100 days of the new
Congress; chief among them should be
common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform.
We look forward to your strong leadership on
this important issue and offer to work with you
in any way possible to ensure the successful
passage of comprehensive immigration reform
during the first 100 days of the new Congress.
Sincerely,
Rosa
Rosales
Lillian Rodriguez-Lopez
National President, LULAC
President, Hispanic Federation
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