International Leaders Gathered to Applaud the Partial Injunction of Arizona’s SB 1070, and to Call for the United States to Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation

Washington, DC/Mexico/Guatemala – Yesterday, international leaders gathered on a bilingual telephonic press conference hosted by Conservatives for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CfCIR). These leaders discussed the urgent need for the reform of our broken immigration system, and to voice approval of the the partial injunction of Arizona’s SB 1070. CfCIR hosted what was essentially a who’s who of prominent conservative and international leaders on their call, including the former President of Mexico Vicente Fox, Juan Gutierrez – the National Secretary of the Guatemalan PAN Party, former Guatemalan President and current Guatemala City Mayor Alvaro Arzu, and also the co-authors of the book “Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate” Jenny Hwang and Matt Soerens of World Relief, an international organization affiliated with the National Assaociation of Evagelicals (NAE).

Some of the highlights from the call:

Former President Vicente Fox: “Who better to explain the issue of migration as an asset than the United States, a nation that has been built by migrants. Everybody has a migration heritage… Since the very beginning of the independence movement, the principles of the American founding fathers have claimed equal opportunity for both immigrants and citizens. The immigrant spirit pushes for a better future, solutions, and better opportunities. Mexico is a very solid partner of the United States and of the state of Arizona. I admire and respect immigrants. They are an example of work ethnic, drive, and loyalty to the country that welcomes them, and they should be treated with dignity.”

National Secretary of the Guatemala PAN party Juan Gutierrez: “We should all be doing whatever we can to try to lead toward an immigration reform solution, so that the migrants can become legal and come home also, to visit their families, and to become more productive members of an assimilated society.”

Former President Arzu: “I am also an immigrant. My grandparents came from the old Soviet Union. Eventually they moved to Detroit, then moved again to Guatemala. So I also come from immigrants, and know very well this phenomenon, and appreciate and respect the life of the immigrant.”

Matt Soerens of World Relief: “As I engage in discussion with evangelical Christians throughout the United States, I’m finding that evangelicals—from the smallest churches to the largest, and across denominational, ethnic, and regional boundaries—are strongly supportive of the principles of comprehensive immigration reform. Local churches see the consequences of a dysfunctional immigration system everyday, and they’re calling on our legislators to stop the bickering and find common-sense solutions.”

Jenny Hwang of World Relief: “Evangelicals as they learn more about what is comprehensive immigration reform, are coming out in strong support of such sensible policies. There is also a moral urgency in supporting such reforms, as much of the church body is suffering, and our communities cannot wait any longer. We applaud Judge Bolton for issuing an injunction that would stop the most controversial parts of the new Arizona law from taking effect. The United States Congress and the Administration, once they start exerting the leadership needed to pass reform, will find the overwhelming support of the evangelical and faith communities in the process.”

KJ