Washington, DC (April 30, 2010) – Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) commends Senate leaders for their efforts in beginning to move the immigration reform debate forward; however, it is calling for much more work to be done to ensure a stronger bill. Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), joined by Senators Durbin (D-IL), Feinstein (D-CA) and Leahy (D-VT), released a proposal yesterday for comprehensive immigration reform legislation that is an invitation to Republican members of Congress to engage in moving immigration reform forward.
SEARAC is pleased that the proposal includes strong provisions on creating a path to legalization and fixing our broken family immigration system. However, there is much work to be done to ensure much needed reform around enforcement, and in particular, due process and restoration of judicial discretion – issues that are particularly important to Southeast Asian American communities.
Doua Thor, Executive Director of SEARAC, states: “Many communities, including Southeast Asian American families, have been affected by unjust laws and the flawed immigration system for far too long. We must continue working with Congress to ensure the inclusion of provisions that will bring back fairness to the system and keep families together.”
