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National Immigrant Community Consultation
“Raising Immigrant Voices for Dignity & Justice”
2005 National Immigrant Community Consultation for Immigration Reform and Human Rights
Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 23, 2005
For more information:
Chris Punongbayan, 510-465-9876 x304, 310-985-0577 (cell)
Carlos Marentes, 206-324-6044
More than 1700 immigrants nationwide surveyed on immigration reform,
Overwhelming majority support legalization of undocumented immigrant
In an unprecedented poll of immigrant communities across the country, the initiative called “Raising Immigrant Voices for Dignity & Justice” found that immigrants firmly support comprehensive reform of the U.S. immigration system. 94% of those polled supported legalization of undocumented immigrants.
Surveyed groups encompassed a wide demographic range, from Latinos, Sikhs, and Filipinos to veterans, students, and residents at the U.S.-Mexico border. In total, 1784 responses were collected from over a dozen states.
Earlier this month, comprehensive immigration reform bills were introduced in D.C., one from Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) and the second, a bipartisan effort from Senators Kennedy (D-MA) and McCain (R-AZ) and Reps. Flake (R-AZ), Kolbe (R-AZ), and Gutierrez (D-IL). Both bills supported the legalization of undocumented immigrants and an overhaul to the family unification system that is severely backlogged, among other changes.
The “Raising Immigrant Voices for Dignity & Justice” initiative also revealed the following:
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94% of those surveyed were in support of granting greencards for any new contract workers to the U.S., so-called “guestworkers” |
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92% were in favor of the immediate re-unification of family members waiting in other countries with their U.S. relatives |
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91% opposed the deterioration of civil liberties and due process, and were also against deportations and harsher standards for asylum and refugee seekers |
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91% opposed police or other local officials enforcing immigration law |
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87% believed that U.S. immigration law should follow international human rights standards |
The poll was coordinated by an alliance of groups that had met in Arizona earlier this year to assess the political landscape for immigration reform. The gathering was convened by the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and the American Friends Service Committee – Project Voice.
The initiative will continue through the summer.
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