Families Speak Out on Senate Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C., May12, 2006 – TheRights Working Group, in collaboration with local partners, illustrated [Thursday] the tragedies suffered by American families and communities tornapart by immigration laws that stripped people of their basic rights. Congressis considering provisions in the Senate immigration bill that will furtherstrip the basic rights of everyone in America. The provisions expand thegovernment’s ability to deport individuals for minor infractions, limitpeople’s ability to access fair hearings, and allow the indefinite detention ofnon-citizens who cannot be returned to their countries of origin.

“Deportation punishes myson, my family, and my community. There is no justice possible when familiesare forcibly separated from their loved ones. Please stop this from happeningto other families. You cannot imagine the loss and suffering I am going throughknowing that my son will disappear from my life on June 23,” stated a tearfulAna Marmol during the telephonic press conference.

These stories are criticalto understanding the dangers of provisions in the Hagel-Martinez compromiseimmigration bill that will further expand the government’s power to erode thecivil liberties and human rights of immigrants and American families.

Manal Kawas explained, “Iam a legal permanent resident. Currently, my dear husband is being deported forthe most minor offense. He has been detained since February of last year—nowalmost 14 months. My youngest daughter keeps asking me when her father willcome home and it puts tears in my eyes. My husband is a decent and loving manwho is now being punished for simply making a false statement on a car titleform that did not hurt anyone and should not be treated like a dangerouscrime.”

Moderator Pramila Jayapal ofHate Free Zone Washington explained, “These stories illustrate how our laws putpeople in impossible positions. Immigrants came here because we asked forpeople to come to America; we inscribed it on the Statue of Liberty andpromised great values and ideals of liberty and justice for all. Now we need tostand by those ideals.”

Speakers at the eventincluded (1) Manal Kawas, a legal permanent resident from Jordan whosechildren are U.S. citizens. Her husband is in detention and faces deportationfor a minor offense; (2) Henoc Moukoulou, who arrived in the U.S. fromCongo seeking asylum and was immediately sent to a county jail to await adecision in his case. He has recently been released; and (3) Ana Marmol,a former refugee from El Salvador and is now a permanent resident. She has a 16year-old son facing deportation.

Members of the RightsWorking Group who facilitated the event were:

ArabCommunity Center for Economic and Social Services
Hate Free Zone Washington
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
New Jersey Immigration Policy Network
New York Immigration Coalition
Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition

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