PRESS STATEMENT: Senate Poised to Reform Immigration System

PRESS STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2006

Contact: Ali Noorani, MIRA

(617) 835.1402 – Cell

(617) 350.5480 x201

U.S. Senate Poised to Reform Immigration System

Will they be realistic?

Boston, MA – On the eve of a Senate Judiciary Committee debate and markup of various immigration reform bills, the Massachusetts immigrant community expresses their disappointment in the leadership of Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter.

"Chairman Specter’s legislation would create a permanent underclass of temporary immigrant workers with no opportunity to get in line for citizenship," said Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. "This is bad for immigrants, and it is bad for America. Immigrants, regardless of status, realize there is nothing temporary about being American, and only want to work hard and become U.S. Citizens,"

The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin debate tomorrow, March 2, 2006. Senate Majority Leader Frist has publicly committed to bringing immigration reform to the Senate Floor the week of March 27, 2006.

The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition stands in support of immigration reform that is comprehensive, provides a path to citizenship, protects workers, makes our communities safer and stronger, and reduces the backlog of existing applications. Legislation filed by Senators McCain and Kennedy, The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005, reflects these principles.

Sheila Gleeson of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers said, "According to a recent Time Magazine poll, about 3-in-4 Americans (76%) favor allowing undocumented immigrants in the U.S., citizenship if they learn English, have a job and pay taxes. Legislation coming out of the Senate should reflect this sentiment. The Irish immigrant community across the country stands in support of real immigration reform that allows all workers to be treated fairly and is working hard in support of the McCain-Kennedy legislation."

###

MIRA works to advocate for the rights and opportunities of immigrants and refugees. In partnership with its members, MIRA advances this mission through education, training, leadership development, organizing, policy analysis and advocacy.