RELEASE: Asian American and Pacific Islander and Latino Groups Demand Rep. Ed Royce to Get to Work on Humane Immigration Reform

Immediate Release:
June 27, 2014

Contact:
Emily Kessel, NAKASEC, eakessel@nakasec.org
Dayne Lee, KRC, dayne@krcla.org

Asian American and Pacific Islander and Latino Groups Demand Rep. Ed Royce to Get to Work on Humane Immigration Reform Action for the National Day to Stop Separating Families

BREA, CALIFORNIA- On June 27, 2014, Asian American and Pacific Islander and Latino American community members were arrested for blocking the intersection outside of Representative Ed Royce’s office in Brea, California as part of the National Day to Stop Separating Families. Hundreds of community supporters joined the rally to demand that Rep. Royce publicly support immigration reform and urge the House leadership to bring this matter for a vote now.

It has been one year since the Senate passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (S. 744) and one year of inaction in the House. Every day the House does not act on immigration reform, families are being torn apart.

Rep. Royce earned 59%[1] on both the AAPI and Latino 2014 National Immigration Preliminary Score Cards for his performance on immigration. Now is the chance for Rep. Royce to improve his grade with the immigrant community. Rep. Kevin McCarthy may be replacing Majority House Leader Eric Cantor, but this shift in House leadership does not change the House’s moral responsibility to put an end to the separation of hardworking families.

Hee Joo Yoon, Executive Director of the Korean Resource Center and one of the seven arrested community members said: “One year ago the Senate passed its version of a bipartisan immigration reform bill. However, House leadership has refused to allow any steps towards a permanent solution from entering the House floor. I am getting arrested today to tell Representative Ed Royce that he has an obligation to stop hiding behind excuses and publicly support legislation that brings millions of aspiring Americans out of shadows and stop tearing apart families. Today, his AAPI, Latino, and overall immigrant community come together to make this message undeniably clear. No more delays.”

Dae Joong (DJ) Yoon, Executive Director of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium said: “We strongly urge House members to earn a score of 100% by truly working for the immigrant community and publicly supporting humane immigration reform. If they fail to do so, the community members will hold them accountable. Our immigrant community cannot wait any longer. No more delays and no more excuses. Every day of delay means thousands of people will be separated from their families.”

This event is sponsored by Korean Resource Center (KRC), NAKASEC (KRC’s National Affiliate), Mi Familia Vota, and SEIU USWW.

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Photos can be found here.

The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers to project a progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans on major social justice issues. NAKASEC maintains offices in Annandale, Virginia and Los Angeles, California. NAKASEC has affiliates in Chicago (Korean American Resource & Cultural Center) and Los Angeles (Korean Resource Center).