AILA Welcomes Rep. Gutierrez (D-IL) Unveiling of Core Principles for a New Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill

Targeted News Service
October 14, 2009 Wednesday 2:11 AM EST
WASHINGTON, D.C.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association issued the following news release:

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) welcomed the call by U.S. Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) yesterday for comprehensive immigration reform (CIR).

Gutierrez presented an outline of core principles that could serve as a basis for a new CIR bill. The core principles address what many immigration advocates hold as key issues vital to any comprehensive immigration reform bill, including a pathway to legalization for undocumented workers and students, family unity and labor protections, smarter and more effective enforcement, verification systems that work, mechanisms for future immigration flows and immigrant integration programs. Specifically, the forthcoming immigration reform legislation would:

* Include a rational and humane approach to the undocumented population;

* Protect U.S. and immigrant workers;

* Allocate sufficient visas to close unlawful migration channels;

* Enhance our nation's security and safety;

* Establish a strategic border enforcement policy that reflects American values;

* Keep American families together;

* Promote immigrant integration;

* Include the DREAM Act and AgJOBS; and

* Protect fundamental rights for all.

"We know how dedicated Rep. Gutierrez is to immigration reform," stated Bernie Wolfsdorf, president of AILA. "Gutierrez has long been a strong and vocal leader in the CIR movement. We welcome his introduction of this new CIR bill and look forward to working with him and other members of congress as a starting point to craft a bill that will once and for all fix this nation's broken immigration system and help spur the country back to economic recovery."

Contact: George Tzamaras, 202/507-7649, gtzamaras@aila.org

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