January 9, 2007
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Harry Reid
Speaker Majority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
H-232 US Capitol 528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20510
Dear Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid:
As an alliance of our country’s leading immigrant rights coalitions, organizations and allies, we thank you for all your hard work over the course of the 109th Congress to secure comprehensive immigration reform. 2006 has been a pivotal year in advocating and organizing for truly just and humane immigration reform legislation. It is a year that is marked by the historic mobilization of immigrants and their supporters throughout the nation followed by the unprecedented increase in the civic participation of immigrant voters.
This year we look to the 110th Congress presenting new opportunities to pass immigration reform legislation that contain the following elements:
1) Clean, inclusive, earned legalization – including the DREAM Act and AgJOBS Bill – that
is not tiered, serves all currently residing undocumented immigrants, does not include
any retroactive exclusion provisions, and that does not exclude persons with
outstanding deportation orders or persons who have committed document fraud
2) Family reunification and an end to backlogs
3) Job training resources for low-income, native born workers so the entire workforce
benefits from immigration reform
4) Clear separation of authority between federal and local law enforcement
5) Any worker visa program must provide strong worker protections that include the
right to change jobs and the opportunity to gain US citizenship
6) Strengthen the enforcement of existing labor laws regardless of immigration status,
including additional funds to the Department of Labor to enforce wage and hour laws.
Until complete accuracy of data is ensured and safeguards are in place preventing
discrimination and abuse, the use of SSA no match letters or other employment
verification should be prohibited. Employers should not be a proxy for immigration
enforcement nor should employment verification systems be used in order to take
adverse job actions where there is a labor dispute
7) Facilitation of immigrant integration through increased resources for English as a
Second Language classes, naturalization and legal services, rolling back increases in
application fees and simplifying the application process for naturalization
8) Ensure civil rights and due process for all immigrants, and restore judicial and
administrative discretion
9) Through immigration law reform and improvements in the management of the
immigration system, decrease the need for mass detention, detention centers and
detention beds. Where detention is deemed necessary, keep detainees as close to
families and legal representation as possible, defend against indefinite detention,
support parole of detainees, codify detention standards and post 9/11 detention
issues of reforming material witness laws, develop alternatives to detention, and
establish clear oversight authority that includes community participation to ensure
due process, civil and human rights standards are met
10) Mechanisms for accountability that halt the escalation of militarization on the border,
end the senseless death of people trying to cross, incorporate broader training for
enforcement officials, reduce violence from smugglers against migrants and
border residents, and protect fragile ecosystems along the border
11) Restore the number of refugees that enter the United States to pre 9-11 levels
As comprehensive immigration reform legislation is drafted in the months ahead, we look forward
to working with your offices to make sure the rights and opportunities of all immigrants are
guaranteed.
Our organizations and allies are committed to implementing a field strategy that amplifies the voice of the community in support of the principles above.
Sincerely,
Organization State
Asociación Salvadoreña de Alabama Alabama
Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama Alabama
Arizona Coalition for Migrant Rights Arizona
5.18 People’s Uprising Commemoration Committee California
African Community Resource Center California
Antioch Korean Christian Community Church California
Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California (APALC) California
Asian Pacific Coalition (University of California-Los Angeles) California
Asian Pacific Islander Americans for Fair Immigration Reform (Southern California) California
Asian Pacific Student Association, Loyola Marymount University California
Central American Resource Center (CARECEN-LA) California
Chinatown Service Center California
Church of Peace (PCUSA) California
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice of California California
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles California
Colombianos en Acción California
Dolores Mission Church California
Enlace California
Global Exchange California
Good Friend Mission California
Good News Presbyterian Church of San Francisco (PCUSA) California
HanNuRi Korean American Cultural Troupe California
Illegality Preventive Christian Connection California
Immigrant Legal Resource Center California
Justice Overcoming Boundaries/Gamaliel Foundation California
Khmer Girls in Action (KGA) California
KOA Dance Federation California
Korean Alliance for Peace and Justice California
Korean Dry Cleaners – Laundry Association of Southern California California
Korean Resource Center (KRC) California
Korean Senior Citizen Mutual Club California
Korean Westminster Presbyterian Church California
Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance California
Legal Services for Children California
National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) California
Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance California
Proyector Pastoral at Dolores Mission California
South Bay Ko-Am Senior Center, Inc California
University of Southern California, Asian Pacific American Student Assembly California
Young Koreans United (YKU) of Los Angeles California
Young Koreans United (YKU) of USA California
Basil Doc’s Pizza, LLC Colorado
Centro Humanitario Para Los Trabajadores Colorado
Colorado Democratic Latino Initiative Colorado
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Colorado
Colorado Progressive Action Colorado
Colorado Progressive Coalition Colorado
Confianza-an Association of Latino Ministers Colorado
Dignity through Dialogue and Education Colorado
El Centro AMISTAD Colorado
Free A Child Colorado
Latin American Research and Service Agency Colorado
Los Pobres, Inc. Colorado
Padres/Jovenes Unidos Colorado
Rights for All People Colorado
SLV Immigrant Resource Center Colorado
Junta for Progressive Action Connecticut
United Action Connecticut/Gamaliel Foundation Connecticut
African Resource Center District of Columbia
National Capital Immigrant Coalition District of Columbia
American Friends Service Committee, Florida Florida
C.O.D.I. Centro de Orientacion al Immigrante Florida
Farmworker Association of Florida Florida
Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center Florida
Florida Immigrant Coalition Florida
For The Children, Inc Florida
Guatemalan Unity Information Agency Florida
Haitian Women of Miami Florida
People Acting for Communities Together Florida
Unite for Dignity Florida
We Count! Florida
ABLE/Gamaliel Foundation Georgia
Atlanta Chapter of American Immigration Lawyers Association Georgia
Coalicion de Lideres Latinos-CHILA Georgia
Korean-American Association of Greater Atlanta (KAAGA) Georgia
Korean-American Information Technology Professionals Association (KATPA) Georgia
LULAC Georgia Housing Commission Georgia
Faith Action for Community Equity Hawaii
Idaho Community Action Network Idaho
Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment Illinois
Asian American Institute Illinois
Chicago Irish Immigrant Support Illinois
Chinese American Service League Illinois
Community Health Partnership Illinois
Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago Illinois
Council on American Islamic Relations – Chicago Illinois
Dominican Literacy Center Illinois
East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center Illinois
Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago Illinois
Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services Illinois
Hanul Family Alliance Illinois
Holy Family Church Immigration Services Illinois
Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health Illinois
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Illinois
Immigration Project Illinois
Interfaith Leadership Project Illinois
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs Illinois
Korean American Community Services Illinois
Korean American Community Services Illinois
Korean American Resource and Cultural Center Illinois
Korean American Women In Need Illinois
Latin Americans United Illinois
Latino Organization of the Southwest of Chicago Illinois
Logan Square Neighborhood Association Illinois
Office of Hispanic Catholics – Vicariate 1 Illinois
Organization of the NorthEast Illinois
Pilsen Neighbors Community Council/Gamaliel Foundation Illinois
Polish American Association Illinois
Sierra Leone Community Association of Chicago Illinois
South Suburban Action Conference/Gamaliel Foundation Illinois
The Immigration Project Illinois
The Southwest Organizing Project Illinois
United African Organization Illinois
Gloria Mendez, Farmers Insurance Iowa
La Bilingue, LLC Iowa
National Catholic Rural Life Conference Iowa
Network Against Human Trafficking Iowa
Quad Cities Interfaith/Gamaliel Foundation Iowa
Sky Mortgage Iowa
Southwest Iowa Latino Resource Iowa
St. Mary Hispanic Ministry in Marshalltown Iowa
United for the Dignity and Safety of Immigrants Iowa
Hispanos Unidos Northeast Wichita Chapter Kansas
Hispanos Unidos Southwest Kansas Chapter Kansas
Hispanos Unidos Wichita Chapter Kansas
MORE2/Gamaliel Foundation Kansas
Peace and Social Justice Center of South Central Kansas Kansas
Sunflower Community Action Kansas
Kentucky Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform Kentucky
Lexington Hispanic Association Kentucky
Maxwell Street Legal Clinic Kentucky
Centro Latino Maine Maine
Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project Maine
Main Council of Churches Maine
Maine Civil Liberties Union Maine
Maine Civil Liberties Union Maine
Maine Council of Churches Maine
Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition Maine
Maine People’s Alliance Maine
Mano en Mano (Hand in Hand) Maine
NAACP Portland Branch Maine
Casa of Maryland, Inc. Maryland
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service Maryland
St. Matthew Church, Immigration/Detention Committee Maryland
Agencia ALPHA Massachusetts
American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts Massachusetts
Anti-Displacement Center Massachusetts
Audrey M. Robert – International Institute of Boston Massachusetts
Berkshire Immigrant Center Massachusetts
Bishop Filipe C. Teixeira, OFSJC Massachusetts
Brazilian Immigrant Center Massachusetts
Brazilian Women’s Group Massachusetts
Center for Haitian American Civic Rights, INC Massachusetts
Centro Presente Massachusetts
Christian Church New Life Massachusetts
Community Action Agency of Somerville Massachusetts
Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts Massachusetts
Diocese of Saint Francis of Assisi, CCA Massachusetts
Doctors for Global Health Massachusetts
Dominican Development Center Massachusetts Massachusetts
East Boston Ecumenical Community Council Massachusetts
El Comite Centroamericano de Emergencia en Massachusetts (CCEMA) Massachusetts
Guatemala Solidarity Committee Boston Massachusetts
Immigrant Assistance Center Massachusetts
Immigrant Information Center Massachusetts
Immigration Pastoral Center, Inc. Massachusetts
Irish Immigration Center Boston Massachusetts
Jewish Vocational Services of Boston Massachusetts
Latinos Unidos en Massachusetts Massachusetts
Lowell Community Health Center Massachusetts
LULAC Metrowest Massachusetts Massachusetts
Massachusetts Alliance of Portugese Speakers Massachusetts
Massachusetts Asian & Pacific Islanders for Health Massachusetts
Massachusetts Coalition for Occupation, Safety and Health (MassCOSH) Massachusetts
Massachusetts Communities Action Network Massachusetts
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition Massachusetts
Massachusetts Jobs with Justice Massachusetts
MassVOTE, the Massachusetts Voter Education Network Massachusetts
Northeast Action Massachusetts
Office of Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo Massachusetts
One Lowell Massachusetts
Proyecto Hondureno Massachusetts
Roca, INC Massachusetts
Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield Massachusetts
The Frosina Information Network Massachusetts
Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services Michigan
MI Voice Michigan/Gamaliel Foundation Michigan
Michigan Organizing Project Michigan
MOSES/Gamaliel Foundation Michigan
Hispanic Ministry Leadership Team, Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis Minnesota
ISAIAH/Gamaliel Foundation Minnesota
Korean Quarterly Minnesota
Metropolitan Congregations United/Gamaliel Foundation Missouri
Montana People’s Action Montana
Center for Service and Justice, Creighton University Nebraska
El Centro de las Americas Nebraska
Justice for Our Neighbors Nebraska
Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest Nebraska
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada Nevada
New Hampshire Immigrant Rights Task Force New Hampshire
African Services Committee New York
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee New York Chapter New York
Arab American Association of New York New York
ARISE/Gamaliel Foundation New York
Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition New York
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice New York
Latin American Integration Center New York
Long Island Immigrant Alliance New York
Long Island Organizing Network/Gamaliel Foundation New York
Make the Road by Walking New York
New York Immigration Coalition New York
Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights New York
NYC AIDS Housing Network New York
Talat Hamdani New York
The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring New York
YKASEC – Empowering the Korean American Community New York
North Carolina Latino Coalition North Carolina
CAUSA Oregon
Latinos Unidos Siempre Oregon
Oregon Action Oregon
Oregon Farmworker Ministries Oregon
Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste Oregon
Rural Organizing Project Oregon
Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality Oregon
Day Without an Immigrant Coalition Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network/Gamaliel Foundation Pennsylvania
The Shalom Center Pennsylvania
Korean Americans for Just Immigration Reform (KAJIR) Pennsylvania
Korean Alliance for Peace & Justice – Philadelphia chapter Pennsylvania
International Institute of Rhode Island Rhode Island
Coalition for New South Carolinians South Carolina
Asociacion Latina of Tennessee Tennessee
Conexion Americas Tennessee
El Crucero (Latino Newspaper in Nashville) Tennessee
Mid-South Interfaith Network for Economic Justice Tennessee
Race Relations Center of East Tennessee, Inc. Tennessee
Shelby County Mayor on Hispanic Affairs Tennessee
Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Tennessee
Workers Defense Project Texas
Boat People SOS Virginia
Empower Hamptons Roads/Gamaliel Foundation Virginia
Tenants and Workers Support Committee Virginia
Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS) Washington
Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of Washington State Washington
Hate Free Zone Washington
Indo Chinese Cultural and Service Center Washington
Korean Women’s Association of Washington State Washington
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Washington
Washington Community Action Network Washington
Club San Sebastian Wisconsin
ESTER/Gamaliel Foundation Wisconsin
Federacion de Oaxaquenos del Medio Oeste Wisconsin
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin Wisconsin
JOB/Gamaliel Foundation Wisconsin
JOSHUA/Gamaliel Foundation Wisconsin
Milwaukee Interfaith Coalition Allied for Hope/Gamaliel Foundation Wisconsin
Peace Action Wisconsin Wisconsin
The Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice of South Central Wisconsin Wisconsin
Voces de la Frontera Wisconsin
WISDOM/Gamaliel Foundation Wisconsin
Organization Regional/National
Northwest Federation of Community Organizations (NWFCO) Regional
American Families United National
Breakthrough: Building Human Rights Culture National
Center for Community Change National
Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) National
Gamaliel Foundation National
National Alliance of Latinamerican and Caribbean Communities (NALACC) National
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum National
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development National
National Council of Jewish Women National
National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) National
National Immigrant Solidarity Network National
National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) National
National Network for Arab American Communities National
South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT) National
Southeast Asian Resource Action Center (SEARAC) National
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society National
UniteFamilies.org National
Workers’ Centers Network, Interfaith Worker Justice National
Individuals State
Dr. Richard Moreno Colorado
Carmela G. Alden Iowa
Marty Deputy Kentucky