FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org
In an ill-advised attempt to delegate immigration enforcement to state and local authorities and criminalize aspiring Americans, the House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary yesterday passed HR 2278, the “Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act.” NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is appalled that the House Judiciary Committee would pursue legislation that aims to expand many of the wasteful and misguided interior enforcement policies, such as the failed Arizona SB 1070, that have caused fear and insecurity in communities across the country.
“At a time when the Senate is debating a commonsense, comprehensive approach to immigration reform that would restore law and order to this system, it is disheartening that a select group of House members would take the opposite approach by giving states the authority to create a chaotic patchwork of immigration laws,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “We have clearly seen that laws like Arizona SB 1070 and Alabama HB 56 not only fail to solve our immigration problems, but also inherently threaten the civil rights of Americans by legalizing racial profiling and discrimination. Why would we essentially nationalize these failed laws that fly directly in the face of this country’s core values?”
“The majority of Americans have made it crystal clear that they want to see immigration reform passed and that they expect Congress to deliver a commonsense solution,” added Murguía. “Instead of looking back to failed policies, we encourage members of the House of Representatives to work toward a solution that promotes economic growth and family unity and reflects our nation’s values.”
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