For immediate release Contacts:
June 6, 2007 Becky Belcore, KRCC, 773.506.9158
EunSook Lee, NAKASEC, 323.937.3703
YuSoung Mun, YKASEC, 718.460.5600
Dae Joong Yoon, KRC, 32.937.3718
As immigration reform debate in Congress heats up,
Korean Americans head to Washington, D.C.
Participation in three major mobilizations, June 18-20, 2007
(Los Angeles, CA) – Korean Americans from all over the country will be participating in three major campaigns to promote just & humane immigration reform from June 18 – 20, 2007 in Washington, D.C. The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and its affiliates – Korean American Resource & Cultural Center of Chicago (KRCC), Korean Resource Center of Los Angeles (KRC), and YKASEC-Empowering the Korean American Community of New York – are major organizers of the:
• Dreams Across America Tour, a nationwide journey via train, to educate the public and humanize the issue of immigration reform by presenting compelling messengers and stories from 100 immigrants and non-immigrants;
• United We Dream June 18th Graduation Ceremony to promote the American DREAM Act (House Resolution 1275 & Senate Bill 774), legislation that would provide a pathway to legalization for undocumented students; and
• Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) June 19th Children’s March to promote family as a priority in immigration reform.
“At this moment where major changes to immigration are being considered, Korean Americans are going to Washington, D.C. to participate in three complimentary gatherings. The American public and members of Congress will be faced with three consecutive days of intense action – on the street and in the airwaves – that speak to the need for just & humane immigration reform. The timing is critical as it is expected that the House of Representatives will begin discussing a bill in mid-June,” states EunSook Lee, Executive Director, NAKASEC.
“Dreams Across America is an opportunity for human stories and not the policies to take center stage. A broken immigration system is not just a set of unworkable rules, but results in real people living in the shadows. On June 18th, the 100 Dreamers will be joined by hundreds who care personally about this issue, including children whose parents were deported and others waiting to be reunited with their family,” states Dae Joong Yoon, Executive Director, KRC.
“Every year, about 65,000 undocumented kids graduate from high school with limited prospects to go on to college and pursue their fullest potential. What does their future hold? The United We Dream Graduation Ceremony on the 18th aims to celebrate the achievements of immigrant youth and stress the importance of opportunities for higher education for all,” states Yu Soung Mun, Executive Director, YKASEC.
“Raids, detention, visa backlogs, and deportation are tearing families apart. We urgently need Congressmembers to prioritize family. The FIRM June 19th Children’s March is a moral reminder that broken laws are resulting in broken families and communities,” states Becky Belcore, Executive Director, KRCC.
The principles that guide our work are: create a path to legalization for all, higher education opportunities and legalization through the DREAM Act, preserve the current family immigration system by maintaining all family preference categories, a future worker program with a path to citizenship, and protect workers’ rights & due process.
Washington, D.C. participants (Bios to be sent out shortly)
Mary Ha, Chicago, IL
Kevin Kang, Flushing, NY
Hyung Joon Kim, Flushing, NY
Andrew Jung & Leonard Jessop, Toledo, OH
Minghi Kim, Flushing, NY
Hee Pok Kim, Los Angeles, CA
Tedy Koo, Chicago, IL
Jessica Lee, Los Angeles, CA
Ari Lumayag, Chicago, IL
Dan Park, Chicago, IL
Rev. Mie Hae Rhee, Chicago, IL
Hang Youk, Houston, TX
Please contact Morna Ha (mha@nakasec.org) or Sookyung Oh (soh@nakasec.org), both at 323-937-3703, to arrange for interviews with participants.
# # #
