We finally have a real chance for immigration reform. The discussion now is how long and how wide that path to citizenship should be.
Casa Latina believes that if we want to solve the problems caused by having a underclass of people working in the shadows, we need to legalize everybody who is living here right now. Anything less would sow the seeds of another crisis.
Twenty-seven years ago, the last time there was an immigration reform, only those that could prove that they had been living in the US for at least five years were eligible to legalize their status. Those that were left out formed the nucleus of new undocumented population, one that grew until it was four times the size of the 3 million undocumented residents that the original law aimed to fix.
Let’s learn from our past mistakes and provide a path to citizenship and full labor and civil rights for all those that are living here now, including those that work in the informal sector such as day laborers and domestic workers.
To read more about how to understand the new immigration proposals, see the National Employment Law Project Press Release on Obama’s Las Vegas speech or the National Immigration Law Center Analysis
We believe that through opportunity and hard work, immigrants can realize their own American dream, making it possible to give back to the community that they now call home. Casa Latina works in coalition with other organizations to build support for comprehensive immigration reform. Immigration reform will create equal opportunity, and ensure that all immigrants are treated with respect and dignity.
For more information about immigration issues or immigrant rights, visit our Links & Resources page.