|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
 |
'White House Plan on Immigration Reform is Alarming;' NaFFAA Calls For Humane Measures, Including Family Reunification to Reform Immigration Laws Now!April 16, 2007 
WASHINGTON—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)--Reacting to news reports that the White House plans to eliminate family-based preferences in its immigration reform proposal, NaFFAA National Chair Alma Kern describes as “extremely disappointing” the Bush Administration’s move to deny immigrants – who had legalized their status in the U.S. – the right to sponsor their relatives to join them. “By effectively preventing family members from unifying, the Bush administration is undermining its own core beliefs about family values,” Kern said. “Reunited families are vital to creating strong communities and minimizing social problems.” “We applauded the White House last year for continuing to push for more comprehensive reform,” Kern adds. “We are alarmed by this proposal, which not only fails to expedite the existing backlog, but charges additional fees.” Kern, instead, urged passage of a bipartisan comprehensive reform bill introduced recently by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ). The Security Through Regularized Immigration and Vibrant Economy, or STRIVE Act, contains provisions that immigrants strongly support. “Instead of eliminating family-based preferences, this bill would reduce what is now a 23-year backlog to six years, thus speeding up the immigration of adult children who will also contribute to the national economy by bringing their skills and talents to this country,” Kern explains. “In addition, this bill has a provision that would finally unify Filipino World War II veterans and their sons and daughters who have been waiting for many years to join their aging parents.” Kern notes that Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) introduced measures in the last Congress to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitation on immigrant visas. Akaka, who filed it as an amendment to the Senate’s 2006 immigration reform bill last year, reintroduced it again last month as a separate bill. NaFFAA has since been advocating for this measure. “We recently met with Sen. Harry Reid who was very receptive to the issue of family reunification,” says Rozita Lee of Las Vegas , Nevada and NaFFAA national vice chair. “We are urging all our NaFFAA affiliates to call their representatives and senators to pass the STRIVE Act. We are also calling on President Bush to fulfill his pledge in his state of the nation address last year, when he vowed ‘to show the character of America in our compassion and care for one another.’ We expect him to lead the American people in seeking for a more humane immigration reform.” NaFFAA is among more than a dozen national convenors that are organizing the Asian Pacific American community to meet in Washington, D.C. on April 30 and May 1. The national mobilization plans to hold community dialogues, legislative visits and a mass rally at the U.S. Capitol. “The issue of family-based preferences and family reunification are matters of great concern that will most assuredly galvanize our community to vote next year,” Kern asserts. “Filipino Americans want public officials to stand for genuine and comprehensive immigration reform.” About NaFFAA The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is a private, non-profit, non-partisan tax-exempt organization established in 1997 to promote the welfare and well-being of all Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. NaFFAA's national office is based in Washington, D.C. Its main function is to monitor legislation and public policy issues affecting Filipino Americans and work in coalition with other national groups around common issues and concerns. In addition, the national office serves as a communications link between affiliate members as well as an information source on federal and legislative initiatives and policies relevant to Filipino Americans. CONTACT:
National Federation of Filipino American Associations
|
|
||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
