CIR ASAP Bill Introduced to Protect Civil Rights of Immigrants
Alma Campos
Published: December 16, 2009
On December 15, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, along with other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, introduced progressive immigration legislation in the House of Representatives--the Support Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP).
Prayer vigil at the offices of Rep. Bobby Rush.
“We can’t be talking about human rights in other countries when we don’t want to talk about it here. The Comprehension Immigration Reform will allow immigrants to have a dignified job where they are not being exploited by employers, and families could go about life simply without fear and margins,” says Diana Alarcon, task force leader with Gamaliel of Metro Chicago and South Suburban Action Conference.
Gamaliel of Metro Chicago is a new organizing cluster located on the Southwest side of Chicago consisting of an organizing table of pastors and community stake holders that are committed to being agents of change. The South Suburban Action Conference is a faith-based organization comprised of individuals groups and churches in the South Suburbs, developed from The Gamaliel Foundation.
In efforts to push CIR ASAP to Congress, the two CIR groups visited two Illinois Congressmen offices, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Rep. Bobby Rush, to hold prayer vigils last Wednesday. Over the next two months, CRI will be pushing for Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation and are asking legislators for support. As people of faith, CRI wants to pass comprehensive immigration reform to keep families together.
The bill that Gutierrez introduced on Dec. 15th has already gathered over 50 diverse co-sponsors in Congress. Its main tenets will be
- Keeping families together by reducing visa backlogs that cause painful separation.
- Requiring those in the country illegally to pay a significant fine and begin the process of legalization.
- Helping immigrant students achieve their dreams by allowing them to continue their education.
- Restoring fairness to our labor markets with worksite enforcement and worker protections.
Learn more about Pilsen Neighbors Community Council and Gamaleil of Metro Chicago's Civil Rights of Immigrants Task Force: www.pilsenneighbors.org
Alma Campos is the communications coordinator for Gamaliel of Metro Chicago and the South Suburban Action Conference.
Posted in Politics and Legislation
