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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org
A call for congressional action on immigration reform reverberated throughout the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Monday, July 22, as discussion turned to the road ahead for reform on the third day of the 2013 NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Annual Conference. The town hall “Immigration: The Moral, Economic, and Political Imperatives for Winning Reform,” headlined by Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D–IL), brought together leading experts, advocates and political strategists—including Julie Kitka, President of the Alaska Federation of Natives; Ana Navarro, Republican Political Strategist; Joe Trauger, Vice President of Human Resources Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers; and Jenny Yang, Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief—to make the case for reform and to discuss the multifaceted efforts underway to get Congress to deliver real solutions.
“We have won an historic battle, but we have not yet won the war. The House of Representatives presents a different political dynamic, and the push in that chamber to secure real reform will be difficult,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “To those in the House who currently oppose reforming our immigration system, I offer this: we have a bill that provides a bipartisan approach, has bipartisan support and balances the complex arguments from both sides. It’s time for you to vote.”
Rep. Gutiérrez echoed this sentiment, adding that he expects the House to swiftly take up the issue after they return from recess.
“I am very confident about our chances for immigration reform, even if the road ahead looks difficult sometimes,” said Gutiérrez. “We have unity among Democrats like I have never seen before, and there are dozens and dozens of Republicans who will vote with us to resolve this issue in a bipartisan manner. This August, when members of Congress are home and holding town halls, they are going to hear from business owners, farmers, faith leaders and the broad cross-section of Americans inside and outside of the Latino community who support reform.
“The current immigration system is just a mess, and we have got to address the deportations, the breaking up of families and the harm our current system does to the U.S. economy,” Gutiérrez continued. “I think there will be a new spirit and a new urgency this fall to complete the work that the Senate started and the country strongly supports.”
While the path that the House of Representatives will take on this issue remains uncertain, the panelists agreed that blocking immigration reform cannot be an option.
“Latino voters created a game-changing moment last November and have continued to be intensely engaged in this effort. And we are not alone,” said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, Director of Immigration and Civic Engagement at NCLR, who moderated the panel discussion. “Every facet of America is represented among the forces pushing for immigration reform—business, labor, agriculture, farmworkers, civil rights and faith organizations, progressive and conservative. And together we can reach every congressional district. Reform is within sight—where there's a will, there's a way, and together we will build the space for solutions to emerge.”
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