Starting today, more than a million young aspiring citizens who were brought to this country as children (known as “ DREAMers ”) can apply for U.S. residency and a work permit under the terms of a new policy announced by the Obama Administration last month. The application forms are posted online at the Department of Homeland Security.
There are so many myths and misconceptions about immigration, oftentimes it’s hard to get the facts. That’s where the Center for American Progress’ new immigration policy brief comes in handy.
What unites working families is much more powerful than anything that divides them. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka expressed his desire to unite the labor and immigrant communities at the National Council of La Raza convention in Las Vegas, Nevada today.
Trumka spoke about the shared values the two groups have in common and how they are committed to working together to build a stronger America and a robust economy for future generations.
Here is an excerpt of his remarks:
Donna Gratehouse, who blogs at Democratic Diva and elsewhere on all things Arizona, sends us this.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer gloated over Monday's Supreme Court decision upholding the racial profiling provision of S.B. 1070, describing it as a victory and vindication. But the governor's buoyed spirits were quickly deflated as she learned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security suspended the 287(g) status of many Arizona law enforcement agencies —287(g) is the agreement that allows state and local police departments to perform some immigration enforcement functions.
Clad in graduation robes and mortarboards, dozens of young “DREAMers,” who no longer face deportation, celebrated President Obama’s action last week that will allow them to remain in the nation in which they grew up. Welcoming the young students from the United We Dream coalition to AFL-CIO headquarters this afternoon, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said:
In this house, we’re not divided as immigrants or native-born. We are united by our vision and values—our vision of an America where hard work is fairly rewarded.
Last year, Christine Ashley, a legal U.S. resident for 42 years, returned from a visit to the United Kingdom. In this video, Scottish-born Ashley says that when she arrived at Boston’s Logan Airport:
I went through immigration as I always do, showed them my green card as I always do, had my thumb scanned as I always do. But this time was different, they took me away in handcuffs.
The AFL-CIO Executive Council this morning reaffirmed its support for comprehensive immigration reform. Here is the entire statement issued by the council:
The AFL-CIO reaffirms its position on comprehensive immigration reform. “Enforcement only” is not the AFL-CIO’s position because it is contrary to comprehensive reform. We have serious concerns about E-verify, and do not support E-verify in its current form. If E-verify were to change, we would re-consider that position.
Across the country, tens of thousands marched and rallied May 1, May Day, to call for national immigration reform and to support all workers’ rights. Just as we did on April 4 , working people declared: “Somos Unos—Respeten Nuestros Derechos” or “We Are One—Respect Our Rights.”
This May Day, working people are rallying across the country to oppose attacks on workers’ rights and immigrant rights. Just as we did on April 4 , working people will declare: “Somos Unos—Respeten Nuestros Derechos” or “We Are One—Respect Our Rights.”
It’s been four years since low-wage workers got a raise. Sign the petition to tell Congress it’s time to raise the minimum wage.
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