Immigrant Families Launch New National Campaign for Immigration Reform

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Immigrant Families Launch New National Campaign for Immigration Reform

Call for Path to Citizenship, Reuniting Families

KALAMAZOO – Today, Michigan’s immigrant community and supporters launched a national push for comprehensive immigration reform at a news conference outside the offices of Representative Fred Upton’s office. Similar events were held in Detroit and Lansing, and began two weeks of press events across the country sounding the starting bell for the 2013 campaign for immigration reform.

At the event, community leaders demanded swift action by Congress and the President.

“We need immigration laws that support families, and respect the human dignity of all,” said Father Bob Creagan of St. Catherine of Siena Parish. “That is why today we, the Michigan Organizing Project, and our allies across the nation are calling upon our congress, our own congressman, Representative Fred Upton, and our president to come together and do the right thing – pass a just, humane, common sense comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for New Americans, THIS YEAR.”

Advocates released principles for reform, including a provision that would allow deported family members to be reunited with their loved ones in the US. They also called for a strong, accessible path to citizenship for the undocumented.

When my mom left to process for residency, she found out she could never legally come back, even thought her husband and children are U.S. citizen,” said Jennifer Amaya, a student who was forced from age 15 to raise her younger siblings when her mother unable to return from Mexico due to immigration laws. “That news was the hardest thing I’ve had to live with. I haven’t been able to hug my mom in four years. My younger brother and sister have had to grow up without a mom.”

The coalition, which included labor, faith, social service and civil rights organizations from across the region, pledged that they would conduct call-in campaigns, marches, and community action to strengthen the call for reform. They pointed out that subsequent to the surge of Latino voters in 2012 President Obama has repeatedly said that immigration reform will be a top priority in 2013. Even many Congressional Republicans like Speaker John Boehner have pointed to the need for reform.

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More information can be found at the event page within the Alliance for Immigrant Rights and Reform’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ReformImmigrationForAmericaMI.