NALACC Supports May 1 Day of Action
Los Angeles – The National Alliance of Latin American and CaribbeanCommunities (NALACC), declared its full support for the day of civic anddemocratic action that will be carried out on May 1st in manydifferent parts of the United States and in countries around the world.
By participating in a myriad of civic anddemocratic events on May 1st, hundreds of thousands of immigrants,their families, and the public in general will demonstrate their support forimmigrants’ rights and their firm desire for comprehensive reform of our currentunjust, inefficient and chaotic laws .
“On May 1st,immigrant communities, organized in many different ways, under many differentleaders, in many different places around the country will show, once again,their commitment to civic and democratic participation,” declared AngelaSanbrano, President of NALACC. “Through a diverse set of activities,including religious celebrations, work stoppages, and a variety ofconsumer campaigns, our communities are expressing their support for immigrantsand rejection of bad legislation that promotes hate and fear, such as H.R.4437,” continued Ms. Sanbrano.
NALACC considers theimmigration raids launched in the past few days to be a disproportionate attackon immigrants who work and pay taxes. Especially given that the employers who havebenefited from their work often pass unnoticed by the authorities. “The onlything the raids accomplish is to breed fear and uncertainty in ourcommunities. They also strain relations between immigrant communities andlocal police forces,” said Oscar Chacón, another NALACC official.
NALACC also offeredconstructive solutions to break through the impasse on immigrationreform. As a first step, authorities should move ahead with a swiftresolution of all the pending requests for permanent residency that arecurrently mired in bureaucratic delays. NALACC also proposes to grantpermanent residency to all those immigrants who live, work, pay taxes, and areraising families in the United States, but who have been denied residencystatus due to our current unjust immigration laws. In order to keep ourdemocracy strong and vibrant, NALACC proposes the creation of a federalprogram to promote the integration of immigrant communities into the political,economic, social and cultural fabric of the United States.
NALACCconsiders that the demonstrations of civic-democratic participation thatwe have witnessed over the past several weeks should prompt the US Congress andPresident Bush to return to the negotiating table and work on real alternativesfor immigration reform that are responsible, just, and viable. “Regrettably,none of the proposals currently under consideration represents a truealternative to the dysfunctional migration system we have today, declaredMarcia Soto, Vice-president of NALACC. “If the proposals currently underconsideration were to be approved, neither the interests of the nation, nor theinterests of immigrant communities would be particularly well served,”continued Ms. Soto. The community mobilization efforts which began at theend of February serve as a powerful example of the democratic convictionsembedded in immigrant communities. NALACC will continue to worktirelessly to strengthen immigrant organizations so they can have a voice indecisions that impact the lives of their communities. Given the chance,NALACC believes immigrants will make a lasting contribution to strengthening ourdemocracy over the long term.
Claudia Lucero , 312-660-1378
Stephanie Kotin, 213-385-0312
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