Napolitano (CA38) - Press Release - CHC Ready to Move Forward on Immigration Reform with President Obama

[Rosendo Delgado]

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca38_napolitano/morenews/pr031809.html


For Immediate Release
Press contact: Miguel Ayala

202-225-2410
March 18, 2009
miguel...@mail.house.gov <mailto:miguel...@mail.house.gov>




CHC Ready to Move Forward on Immigration Reform with President Obama





(Washington, DC) - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) met with
President Barack Obama at the White House today. The sole topic of
discussion at the meeting was the urgent and vital need to reform our nation
’s broken immigration system. The CHC shared their plan and agenda for
moving comprehensive immigration reform forward and the Members were pleased
to have the support of President Barack Obama in moving forward with our
plan this year.

“The President made clear to us that he is a man of his word. He clearly
understands the consequences of a broken immigration system. We believe
that under his leadership we can finally provide some dignity to the
thousands of families that are living in the shadows and in fear,” said
Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Chair of the CHC. “Bringing our nation’s
12 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and putting their hard
work on the books will increase the tax base across the board. And with
nearly 17 percent of all new small businesses owned by immigrants, this
hard-working population can help lead our economy out of this recession.
President Obama has committed to working with us as we continue to lead on
this issue, and serve as advocates for the immigrant community.”

During the meeting, President Obama reaffirmed his understanding of the
difficulties immigrants are facing. He also conveyed that he is aware of
the impact the immigration raids are having on families, and assured the CHC
that he is pursuing ways, including administrative first steps, to ensure
the enforcement policies do not result in the separation of families. All
24 Members of the CHC were present for the meeting.

"We came to the President today as allies and supporters, and in return he
showed us that he remains committed to immigration reform that stabilizes
our economy, secures our borders and keeps our families together," said
Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez, Chair of the CHC Immigration Task Force.
"The President showed the CHC that, although it is very early in his
administration, he understands that for the immigrant community it’s the
11th hour, and there is no time to waste. The Latino community supported
President Obama overwhelmingly in the election, and they remain energized
not only by his victory but also by his message of support for comprehensive
immigration reform. I believe that a plan is forthcoming, and that we will
see real change this year."
President Obama met with the 24 Members of the CHC (Photo courtesy of the
White House)
<http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca38_napolitano/morenews/obama31809.jp
g>


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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is comprised of Members of
Congress of Hispanic descent. Since 1976 the CHC has been addressing the
needs of the Hispanic community in all areas of American life. For more
information on the CHC, call (202) 225-2410.

http://velazquez.house.gov/chc <http://www.house.gov/baca/chc/>




> Obama spoke yesterday on CIR at a townhall meeting in California.
> Click on the link to watch the video. Patty
>
> President Obama Reaffirms Commitment to Immigration Reform at Townhall
> Meeting
>
> After yesterday's meeting with the Hispanic Caucus (CHC), President
> Obama also reaffirmed his commitment to passing comprehensive
> immigration reform at a town hall meeting in Mesa County, California:
>
>
>
> Here's the full text of President Obama's Costa Mesa Town Hall
> meeting, from the LA Times blog:
>
> THE PRESIDENT: I just met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
> today, which Congresswoman Sanchez is a member of -- (applause) -- to
> talk about this issue directly. As many of you know, during the
> campaign I was asked repeatedly about this, and I reiterated my belief
> that we have to have comprehensive immigration reform.
>
> Now, I know this is an emotional issue, I know it's a controversial
> issue, I know that the people get real riled up politically about
> this, but -- but ultimately, here's what I believe: We are a nation
> of immigrants, number one.
>
> Number two, we do have to have control of our borders. Number three,
> that people who have been here for a long time and put down roots here
> have to have some mechanism over time to get out of the shadows,
> because if they stay in the shadows, in the underground economy, then
> they are oftentimes pitted against American workers.
>
> Since they can't join a union, they can't complain about minimum
> wages, et cetera, they end up being abused, and that depresses the
> wages of everybody, all Americans. (Applause.)
>
> So I don't think that we can do this piecemeal. I think what we have
> to do is to come together and say, we're going to strengthen our
> borders -- and I'm going to be going to Mexico, I'm going to be
> working with President Calderón in Mexico to figure out how do we get
> control over the border that's become more violent because of the drug
> trade.
>
> We have to combine that with cracking down on employers who are
> exploiting undocumented workers. (Applause.) We have to make sure
> that there's a verification system to find out whether somebody is
> legally able to work here or not. But we have to make sure that that
> verification system does not discriminate just because you've got a
> Hispanic last name or your last name is Obama. (Laughter.)
>
> You've got to -- and then you've got to say to the undocumented
> workers, you have to say, look, you've broken the law; you didn't come
> here the way you were supposed to. So this is not going to be a free
> ride. It's not going to be some instant amnesty. What's going to
> happen is you are going to pay a significant fine. You are going to
> learn English. (Applause.)
>
> You are going to -- you are going to go to the back of the line so
> that you don't get ahead of somebody who was in Mexico City applying
> legally. (Applause.) But after you've done these things over a
> certain period of time you can earn your citizenship, so that it's not
> -- it's not something that is guaranteed or automatic. You've got to
> earn it. But over time you give people an opportunity.
>
> Now, it only works though if you do all the pieces. I think the
> American people, they appreciate and believe in immigration. But they
> can't have a situation where you just have half a million people
> pouring over the border without any kind of mechanism to control it.
>
> So we've got to deal with that at the same time as we deal in a humane
> fashion with folks who are putting down roots here, have become our
> neighbors, have become our friends, they may have children who are
> U.S. citizens. (Applause.) That's the kind of comprehensive approach
> that we have to take. All right. Okay. (Applause.)
>
>
>
>