*Statement on Immigration** Hispanic and Jewish Members of Congress September 29, 2008*
As Jews and Hispanics, we share an experience that defines our histories and reflects our families' roots—the experience of being a "stranger in a strange land." Today we express our commitment to immigrants of all faiths and backgrounds. After all, as the Old Testament teacheswe are our brothers' and sisters' keepers. In addition to being Hispanics and Jews, we are also members of Congress. As a result, we are responsible for legislation to safeguard the fair and humane treatment of all people, and we have the best interests of our communities and all Americans at heart. It is in this spirit of our shared experiences and common goals that we put forth our shared priorities for fair and workable immigration reform. Our policies must hold employers who do not comply with the law accountable and empower the federal government to swiftly investigate and root out bad-acting employers who flout our labor and immigration laws. Securing a legal workforce also depends on an employment verification system that accurately and efficiently identifies eligible new hires. We also fully support securing our borders. Strong borders require an adequate supply of manpower, groundbreaking technology and sensible infrastructure that regulates the flow of people and goods while doing no harm to local communities or the environment. Enforcement alone, however, no matter how well formulated or funded, is doomed to fail. We cannot deport our way out of this problem. Poorly planned raids intended to grab headlines are a not only a waste of taxpayer money, but they also are an inefficient enforcement tool that displace U.S. workers, interrupt laborers from organizing, tear apart American families, and destroy neighborhoods and towns. The blame cannot simply be placed on undocumented workers; abusive employers who violate our immigration laws must be held accountable. As Jews and Hispanics, we are called to welcome the stranger in our midst. In policy terms, this means that we must look upon the estimated 12 million undocumented individuals living among us not with scorn, but with compassion, as we require them to come forward, apply for legal status, pass rigorous background checks, pay back taxes, learn English and fully integrate into the mainstream economy and American society. Dealing fully and humanely with the undocumented living in the United States is key to realistic and effective immigration reform that protects the homeland and is consistent with our traditions and values. In order to strengthen our country in the future, we must also institute reforms that, unlike those of the past, prevent illegal immigration. We need an immigration system that reflects our family values: parents and children and husbands and wives should be together rather than separated by antiquated laws and bureaucratic processing. The fair and swift reunification of families in the United States would eliminate the incentive to break visa rules or risk one's life crossing a remote border to be with a loved one. Current legal channels for immigration to the U.S. are also insufficient to provide many employers with the workers they need. Established worker programs should better fill workforce gaps and protect the jobs, wages and working conditions of Americans. For too long the absence of legal channels for low-skilled workers has served as a ready tool for abusive employers to deny Americans jobs and exploit vulnerable immigrants trying to feed their families. Our nation was founded on the premise that, no matter one's origins, each person can better his or her lot in life. From the tenements of the Lower East Side to the border towns in Texas and Arizona, this nation was built on the sweat and toil of immigrants. Whether crossing the Atlantic or the Rio Grande, the American Dream comes at an often-perilous cost, and is realized only with hard work and determination. Immigrants do not come to America because it is easy; they come to America to work hard and achieve the American Dream, if only we will let them. *Rep. Rahm Emanuel** Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez Rep. Joe Baca Rep. Henry A. Waxman Rep. Silvestre Reyes Rep. Gary Ackerman Rep. Jose E. Serrano Rep. Jan Schakowsky Rep. Albio Sires Rep. Ruben Hinojosa Rep. Xavier Becerra Rep. Lucile Roybal-Allard Rep. Nydia Velazquez Rep. John Salazar Rep. Hilda Solis Rep. Grace Napolitano Rep. Raul Grijalva Rep. Solomon Ortiz Rep. Ed Pastor Rep. Howard Berman * -- Jorge Mujica --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Internet group address: http://groups.google.com/group/ChicagoMayDay To send e-mail: [email protected] To unsuscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
