5:16 PM
CAUSA Communications Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2009
Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director: (503) 488-0263
Roadmap to Immigration Reform makes a strong and positive beginning
Salem, Ore--Today members of Congress from both houses and from both sides of the aisle met at the White House for an historic working session on Immigration Reform. The White House meeting, which was postponed from last week, was rescheduled for today after immigration reform proponents generated over 200,000 faxes, 30,000 phone calls, and 3,300 personal notes calling on the President to fulfill his campaign promise to pass Immigration Reform.
CAUSA is pleased to announce that the meeting was a complete success with participants from both parties confirming their dedication to passing an immigration reform bill.
“We are extremely pleased that the President and the majority of participants from both parties have committed to moving immigration reform”, said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA. “We applaud the White House and Congressional Leaders including Senate Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Pelosi, Senator Schumer and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for making immigration reform a priority.”
Among those participating in the meeting included a bipartisan group of 16 Representatives and 12 Senators, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, and President Obama.
During the meeting, the President was very vocal and firmly committed to working with Congress to get a bill passed saying, “we need to all jump into this together”. Republican Senator John McCain, who was also in attendance, pledged he would work with the President--signaling a bipartisan alliance needed for success. Among those in attendance, the majority confirmed their will to pass an immigration reform bill by late 2009 or early 2010.
Lopez added, “We will not deport or drive out 12 million undocumented immigrants and the status quo is unacceptable. We are in desperate need of a solution that gets immigrants into the system, holds employers accountable, strengthens the rights of all workers, reunites families, and offers solutions that move us forward together. We can’t wait. Now is the time, this is the year, we need our leaders to lead”.
“Today’s meeting was a great start to the process of bringing real reform. CAUSA will continue to engage it’s members and allies in Oregon to ensure that our Congressional Delegation will be ready to vote in favor of a bill when it comes to their chamber floor.”
CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is the largest Hispanic civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org
Resources:
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AFTER MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO DISCUSS IMMIGRATION
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-after-meeting-with-members-of-Congress-to-discuss-immigration/
BACKGROUND ON MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO DISCUSS IMMIGRATION REFORM (list of attendees)
http://www.causaoregon.org/pdfs/background-on-meeting-with-members-of-congress-to-discuss-immigration-reform
Posted in: Congressional Hispanic Caucus,Congressional Leaders,Fair and Just Immigration Reform,President Barack Obama,pro-immigrant legislation,White House
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