wfn.org | CWS - Faith Leaders Tell White House Immigration Reform Now

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

'Need for immigration reform is now,' U.S. faith leaders tell White
House and Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- March 24, 2010 -- Building on the momentum of
Sunday's massive comprehensive immigration reform rally in Washington,
the head of humanitarian agency Church World Service, CWS advocacy
staff, and a diverse group of U.S. faith leaders met Monday with
representatives at the White House, with Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-Nev.), and staff of other lawmakers on Capitol Hill, to press
for major immigration reform legislation this year.

It was an issue that gained major public and media attention over
weekend-- despite the final fiery health care debate that was still
roiling at that moment in the House.

President Obama made his support for immigration reform visible on the
big screen in a video message to the thousands of activists on the
National Mall on Sunday. He restated his "unwavering" commitment to
achieving comprehensive immigration reform and pledged "to do everything
in my power to forge a bipartisan consensus this year on this important
issue."

In a bid to reinforce the administration's commitment and discuss best
approaches, Church World Service executive director and CEO Rev. John L.
McCullough and fellow faith leaders met Monday with Cecilia Muñoz,  White
House director of intergovernmental affairs in charge of comprehensive
immigration reform for President Obama; from the White House office of
faith-based and neighborhood partnerships, Josh DuBois, executive
director, Mara L. Vanderslice, special assistant to the President's
advisory council, and Paul Montero, deputy director of religious affairs
for the White House office of public liason; Stephanie Valencia,
associate director, White House office of public engagement addressing
immigration issues; and Felicia Escobar, senior advisor for immigration
policy to the domestic policy council.

"Following Sunday's rally and being with hundreds of thousands of
Americans who are behind fair and humane immigration policies, we were
doubly heartened by the clear support from the White House and Majority
Leader Harry Reid," said CWS's McCullough.

"Many of the president's staff attended the March for America
immigration reform rally," CWS associate for immigration and refugee
policy Jen Smyers said. "They really heard the stories of the people
there. They asked that we encourage immigration reform advocacy groups
to use the video of President Obama's message to let people know the
President is on board and behind reform legislation," she said.

â??The momentum is in favor of immigration reform now and not the  other
way around," said McCullough after Sunday's rally.

'Not just fun and games-but real lives broken by the system'
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the immigration reform
policy issue wasn't "fun and games, not just politics, but real lives
impacted by our broken immigration system." Reid believes Congress can
"get something done this session," that there was now increased energy.

CWS and its coalition partners are calling for fair, balanced and more
humane policies that support family unity, reduce undocumented
immigration, stop worker exploitation, and allowing undocumented
immigrants to rectify and earn their legal status.

A recent Center for American Progress report indicated that legislation
that reforms the visa system and provides a pathway to legal status for
undocumented immigrants would dramatically increase the Gross Domestic
Product by $1.5 trillion over 10 years. That projection includes
increases in tax revenue, wage growth, job creation and investments.

Earlier this month CWS asked Congress to move on immigration reform
before the summer recess.

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Media Contacts: Lesley Crosson, Church World Service, (212) 870-2676
lcrosson@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin - 24/7 - (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net

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