For Immediate Release
August 16, 2007
Contacts:
Kat Choi, KRCC, 773.506.9158
Eun Sook Lee, NAKASEC, 323.937.3703, ext. 205
Yu Soung Mun, YKASEC, 718.460.5600
Dae Joong Yoon, KRC, 323.937.3718
NO-MATCH LETTERS MAKE NO SENSE
JOINT STATEMENT BY:
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
Korean American Resource & Cultural Center in Chicago
Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles
YKASEC – Empowering the Korean American Community in Flushing
(Los Angeles, CA) On August 10, the Bush administration announced plans to ramp up enforcement-only activities without Congressional oversight. The measures include increased use of state and local law enforcement of immigration laws, expansion of detention facilities and the implementation of new Social Security “no match” regulations. The publication of the final rule is expected the week of August 13 and will become effective 30 days after publication. By fall, it is estimated that 140,000 employers will be sent these “no-match” letters corresponding to roughly 8 million workers.
NAKASEC and its affiliates are deeply concerned about the proposed regulations which convert the no-match letters into an immigration enforcement tool against employers and negatively impacting workers. No doubt, the no-match letters will lead to widespread cases of racial profiling, discrimination, and unjust termination of workers as well as penalize and confuse employers. Our economy will be weakened with companies forced to either shut down or become a part of a growing underground economy. What is clear is the regulations do nothing to address the prevailing problems facing our country. We urge Congress and the Bush Administration to begin taking serious steps towards reforming our immigration laws smartly, humanely and comprehensively.
For more information and bilingual resources please go to www.nakasec.org.
# # #
One Comment