Our Affiliates:
Asian pacific American Legal Center Asian American Institute Asian law Caucus Asian American Center for Advancing Justice
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| 14-Apr-09 4:00 PM EST | ||
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Asian American Civil Rights Organizations Support Unified Labor Position on Immigration; See United Labor Front as Key to Passing Immigration Reform |
Washington, D.C. – The Asian American Justice Center, a national civil rights organization in Washington, D.C., and its affiliates – the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles, Calif., the Asian American Institute in Chicago, Ill. and the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, Calif. – applaud the announcement that the country's most powerful labor federations have achieved consensus around a set of principles regarding immigration reform. “This is a tremendous achievement for labor as we move forward to ensure the passage of an immigration reform bill that serves the interests of all workers,” said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center. This agreement between two major labor federations, the A.F.L.-C.I.O. and Change to Win, lays out a framework for immigration reform that includes a labor commission to calibrate flows of future workers and a component legalizing the undocumented. The principles substantially recognize the importance of family immigration as it provides an important integration net and a support system in our communities, and include the recognition that pressures on the family immigration system impact unauthorized immigration. “For those of us who have been fighting for immigrant and worker rights for decades, we are pleased that labor is speaking with one voice on immigration issues,” said Stewart H. Kwoh, president and executive director of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. “It is important that we all come together for immigration reform and are heard in unison: Asian Americans, Latinos, the faith community, the labor community and the civil rights and immigrant rights communities.” Research and immigration authorities estimate that more than 1.4 million Asian Americans are undocumented, and that millions of Asian Americans are also waiting in the family immigration backlogs. Our nation needs a fair immigration system that provides a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants, reunites families and is practical for both working men and women and the business sector. Comprehensive immigration reform would pay for itself in the form of increased wages, buying power and tax contributions that would benefit all workers and businesses.
“Now that labor groups are coming together on immigration policy, we are especially hopeful that the dialogue about internal enforcement issues can prioritize protection of the civil and human rights of immigrant workers,” said Titi Liu, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus. Tuyet Le, executive director of the Asian American Institute added, “This is a development for the community and individuals on the ground. The Asian American labor and immigrant rights communities understand that this united front will restore fairness in the workplace and establish a level playing field for all workers in the system.” # # # The Asian American Justice Center is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates – the Asian American Institute in Chicago the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles – and nearly 100 community partners in 44 cities, 24 states and the District of Columbia.
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