THIS WEEK:
Los Angeles Parent School Partnership Program Graduation
Fri., May 25
8:30 am - 11:30 am
MALDEF Headquarters
634 S. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA
For more information contact Raul Moreno.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
27th Annual
Chicago Dinner
Thurs., June 14
7:00 pm
The Palmer House Hilton
17 East Monroe Street
Chicago, IL
For more information contact Grace Duran.
23rd Annual
Texas Dinner
Fri., September 14
Westin Riverwalk
420 W. Market Street
San Antonio, TX
For more information contact Grace Duran.
33rd Annual
Los Angeles Dinner
Tues., October 30
Hyatt Regency
Century City Plaza
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA
For more information contact Grace Duran.
For more information on dinners, please contact Grace Duran at gduran@maldef.org or 213.629.2512 x 122. | |
IMMIGRATION:
A Bill In The Senate
But It Must Be The Right One
This week the United States Senate turns to a long awaited bipartisan approach to immigration shaped by key Senate leaders and the White House. Like any compromise legislation, the proposed bill includes many positive elements which MALDEF supports – a legalization program for people who have contributed to the economy and communities of this country; the DREAM Act to allow the children who have gone to school here to adjust to legal status if they go to college for two years; and an opportunity for individuals to enter the country legally in the future.
At the same time, the proposed legislation has many provisions that, if they remain, would cause MALDEF to oppose the bill. The proposal turns its back on family reunification as the cornerstone of our legal immigration policy. As a trade for legalizing the status of undocumented persons who have been here for a significant duration, the legislation drastically limits the future eligibility of United States citizens to petition for their parents and siblings to be reunited in the United States. The bill also introduces an untried and unpredictable point system to allocate visas. Applicants would receive points for their job skills, education level, and English proficiency, as well as the traditional family ties to the United States. The Senate previously rejected providing extra points for people whose “skill” is that they were born in English speaking countries. They should reject it again. With regard to job skills themselves, since the U.S. needs additional workers with both low skills and higher level skills, it is an inexact measure at best. There is a better approach to fulfill our national needs. Moreover, the future guest worker program under the Senate bill would require workers to leave the U.S. after two years. We believe this provision would drive down all worker standards in the United States and leave these workers hard-pressed to avoid exploitation.
MALDEF will continue to urge President Bush to fulfill his commitment to families in this country by supporting and strengthening family values through our nation’s immigration policy. This week, the MALDEFian will update you daily on our and others’ efforts to improve the Senate bill. Please call your Senator today, at 202-224-3121, to encourage him or her to support improvements to the bill, defeat unhelpful amendments, and pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation that advances us all.
Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation’s leading Latino legal organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through litigation, advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships.
MALDEF NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
LOS ANGELES REGIONAL OFFICE
634 S. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Tel: 213.629.2512 |
|
ATLANTA REGIONAL OFFICE
41 Marietta Street
Suite 1000
Atlanta, GA
Tel: 678.559.1071 |
CHICAGO REGIONAL OFFICE
11 East Adams
Suite 700
Chicago, Il 60601
Tel: 312.427.0701 |
HOUSTON PSP PROGRAM OFFICE
Ripley House
4410 Navigation, Suite 118
Houston, TX 77011
Tel: 713.315.6494 |
SACRAMENTO POLICY OFFICE
1107 9th Street
Suite 240
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: 916.443.7531 |
SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL OFFICE
110 Broadway
Suite 300
San Antonio, TX 78205
Tel: 210.224.5476 |
WASHINGTON, DC REGIONAL OFFICE
1717 K Street, NW
Suite 311
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. 202.293.2828 | | |
