CHIRLA "Educating, Organizing, Advocating"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2009

Contacts: Jorge-Mario Cabrera (562) 243-5559
Anike Tourse (213) 210-6735

Optimism After First Salvo on Immigration Reform
Commitment must now turn into drafting of just and humane legislation that President Obama can sign

Los Angeles – President Obama met today with a bipartisan delegation of congressional representatives and leaders to discuss the prospects for immigration reform. The White House gathering is a first for a president who has made immigration a national priority. Angélica Salas, Executive Director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), a regional immigrant rights organization based in Los Angeles, had this to say on the subject:

“We commend the President, Senators and Representatives for holding the first of what we expect will be several open and interactive sessions that lead to just and humane immigration reform legislation in the next few months. We are pleased to hear the optimism and clarity coming out from both sides of the isle and we look forward with all involved. Let immigration reform for America begin in earnest.

No one said that reforming a grossly broken system would be easy. The benefits of legalizing more than 12 million undocumented immigrant workers, however, by far outweigh any costs. Americans have grown tired of the anti-immigrant rhetoric and the broken families as a result of the worksite and early morning home raids. Mass deportations or staying the course are no longer viable options. A third option remains: immigration reform. The moment to do the right thing for America and the right thing for immigrants is now.

President Obama has once again stated his commitment to moving forward on immigration reform. Now, it is up to Congress to ensure that the makings of a bill come together in full. As a nation of laws and immigrants we can meet as one and draft a humane, practical, and just proposal that will ensure the future of our sons and daughters.

Our community’s participation now more than ever is crucial. Through faxes, text messages, emails, and phone calls, we must continue to express our commitment to immigration reform with each of our congressional representatives and the President. Our stories as immigrant Americans are important and must be told.”

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The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) was formed in 1986 to advance the human and civil rights of immigrants and refugees in Los Angeles, promote harmonious multi-ethnic and multi-racial human relations and through coalition-building, advocacy, community education and organizing, empower immigrants and their allies to build a more just society.