The following is a press release from United We DREAM:
Broad Coalition Rejects Efforts That Would Lead to Second-Class Status for Millions
As the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on immigrant youth, a diverse range of advocates for immigration reform joined DREAMers and Members of Congress to denounce legislative proposals that fall far short of our shared goal of passing immigration reform with a clear path to citizenship for our families and entire community. DREAMers reminded lawmakers that our parents made a courageous sacrifice for our futures and we cannot accept proposals that vilify our parents or leave millions of deserving, hardworking immigrants out of the American dream.
Cristina Jimenez, Managing Director of United We Dream, led a telephone press conference yesterday and in-person press conference today in Washington, D.C, reminding politicians that DREAMers will reject any efforts to divide our communities and put DREAMers on a path to citizenship while leaving our families behind.
In November 2012, 600 DREAMers representing over 50 affiliate organizations of United We Dream made a unanimous decision to fight for our families and to win a clear, direct path to citizenship for every member of our community,” said Jimenez. “We will not give up or allow lawmakers to condemn our parents to second-class status. Our parents’ dreams enabled our dreams and we owe our success to them and the sacrifices they made. It would betray our deeply held American values of family and fairness to exclude them from our nation.
In addition to the events held this week, United We Dream leaders testified before the House Judiciary Committee and 50 UWD leaders from NC, AR, NY, CT, MD, VA and other states filled the hearing room to send a clear message to politicians.
Said Rosa Velazquez, a member of United We Dream’s National Coordinating Committee and co-founder and executive director of Arkansas Coalition for DREAM who testified at the hearing:
My mother’s hardworking hands are the reason that today, I am currently a grad student at Henderson State University and Harding University in Arkansas, pursuing two master’s degrees, one in ESL English and one in American Literature. I am my mother’s daughter. She and I are equal. We both came here in pursuit of a better life and just like millions of Dreamers and families, we are ready to claim our citizenship.
Pam Rivera, sister of United We Dream National Coordinating Committee member Evelyn Rivera, who also testified, said:
It has now been over 6 years since Eve have seen our mom. It has been 6 years since her life as she knew it came to a halt. This is the only home she knows, she broke no laws, she did nothing wrong, yet she is punished every day and forced to live in limbo—for no reason at all.
Evelyn traveled to the US-Mexico border last month to see her mother, who was deported back to Colombia, and had a bittersweet embrace through the border fence. She and her sister stand together, fighting to reunite their family and ensure they all have the opportunity to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
DREAMers were also joined this week by a diverse coalition of immigrant justice advocates, including Wade Henderson, president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, who spoke at the press conference today, saying:
If the House is serious about reforming our immigration system, we believe that a clear, fair, and workable path to citizenship must be a centerpiece of its efforts. We know all too well that when our legal system tolerates the creation of a modern-day caste system, democracy itself is compromised.
Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, reminded lawmakers that there is strong public support for immigration reform with a real roadmap to citizenship and that it’s time to bring up a comprehensive bill for a vote.
Right now, the only thing standing between DREAMers and their families getting on a path to citizenship is a Republican procedural excuse, when the votes exist right now to pass it.
Said Jacinta Ma, Deputy Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, another speaker at today’s press conference:
Congress has a historic opportunity to fix our broken immigration system. But we need a comprehensive solution that deals with our complex immigration system. We want citizenship not just for DREAMers but for all 11 million undocumented immigrants, including over 1 million undocumented Asian Americans.
And yesterday, on a telephonic press conference previewing the hearing, Clarissa Martinez, Director of Civic Engagement and Immigration at the National Council of La Raza, said:
It is preposterous and un-American to say some will never be able to earn their citizenship. Now is the time to reject false choices and we encourage Members of Congress to reconsider this foolhardy approach.
Héctor J. Figueroa, president of SEIU 32BJ, who also spoke on Monday on behalf of the labor community to express support for DREAMers and their families, said:
We are ready and prepared to finally fix our immigration system and embrace 11 million people and there will be a political price to pay if politicians don’t realize the moment we’re in.
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-14), Congressman Joe Garcia (FL-26), Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33), and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-32) also joined today’s press conference to reiterate their commitment to stand with DREAMers and push for real immigration reform with a path to citizenship for 11 million Americans without papers.
Watch the presser:
