For immediate release
November 18, 2009
Contacts:
Nicole Duran, AAJC, 202.296.2300 x 144
L. Sookyung Oh, NAKASEC, 202-567-1397
Asian Americans & Pacific Islander (AAPIs)
Support Immigration Reform
AAPIs Join Thousands in House Parties in CA, CO, DC, FL, IL, MD, MI, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA, and WA
(Washington, D.C.) Today, Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) will share details about the comprehensive immigration reform legislation that he intends to introduce this year through a national telebriefing. Communities across the country are joining this national conversation in their homes, churches, classrooms and worksites, and then taking actions to promote immigration reform. Organized by the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign, this call follows an earlier public rally on October 13 where Rep. Gutierrez laid out the core principles that will serve as the substance of his bill.
“Though the AAPI community is diverse, immigration is one issue that crosses all ethnic lines. Whether they are first generation or fifth generation, AAPIs recognize the fundamental importance of the issue and its impact on our community,” stated Curtis Chin, board president of Asian Pacific Americans for Progress.
“The importance and urgency of comprehensive immigration reform for Asian Americans and for all Americans cannot be overstated,” stated Karen Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center. “By participating in this national call, Asian Americans across the country, from California to Florida, Michigan to Texas, are letting their members of Congress know that Asian Americans are demanding action – now.”
“A prevailing misconception in mainstream America is that the broken immigration system does not impact AAPIs. That’s simply not true; we are adversely impacted in many ways. A surprising 10% of the undocumented are AAPIs, including young people, and countless others are languishing behind bars in detention centers. That’s why we are stepping up our actions and this event is part of that,” stated EunSook Lee, executive director of NAKASEC.
List of Participating AAPI organizations:
Asian American Justice Center
Asian Pacific American Legal Center
Asian Pacific Americans for Progress
Korean American Resource & Cultural Center
Korean Resource Center
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
National Asian Pacific Center for Aging
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
OCA – Embracing the Hopes and Aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans
Philippine American Foundation for Charities, Inc.
South Asian Americans Leading Together
